All instances where Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr was racially abused
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
The Brazilian athlete was once again the victim of racial taunts.
Guillem Balague, a Spanish football expert, was there at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on Tuesday when Vinicius Jr.’s complaint of suspected racial abuse caused Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League play-off first leg match against SL Benfica to be paused for 10 minutes.
Vinicius Jr. claims that in his eight years at Real Madrid, he has been the target of abuse 20 times.
Gianluca Prestianni, an Argentine midfielder for Benfica, is accused of racially abusing Vinicius Jr. just minutes after his incredible goal. Prestianni disputes the accusation.
Meanwhile, many of Vinicius Jr’s teammates have warmly supported him, including Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe told the media he heard a racial slur used five times. But Vinicius’s demeanour is also perceived as impolite and conceited when he addresses the stands.
However, that response is said to have its roots in the same place as his anti-racist demonstrations: an ongoing fight against an antagonistic environment. Perhaps this burden manifests for Vinicius as stress, rage, and actions that appear exaggerated from the outside.
As he works to persuade the authorities to strengthen their policies and procedures, Vinicius Jr has become a worldwide icon of opposition to discrimination.
How many times has Vinicius Jr. been racially abused?
There are names, dates, and court orders to prove that the animosity toward Vinicius Jr. is genuine.
He has reportedly been mistreated 20 times while playing for Real Madrid, the most recent of which occurred at the Estadio da Luz. Across stadiums in Spain, he has received multiple insults. Even a black mannequin wearing his clothes was hung from a bridge, prompting him to testify in court.
In Valencia and Mallorca, he witnessed supporters receiving suspended sentences for racial taunts. LaLiga’s attempts to ensure that those activities do not go unpunished in a judicial culture that has long indulged football’s “industrial” vocabulary and “banter” were largely responsible for this. A timeline of some of the things that happened to him is a sad read.
Fans from different clubs in Spain have targeted Vinicius Jr. racially
When he was being replaced during an El Clásico at Camp Nou in October 2021, a supporter yelled racist taunts at him. The police were unable to identify the offender, and the matter was closed.
Then, in March 2022, he was ordered to “go pick bananas” by Mallorca fans who made monkey noises. Although they were “outraged,” the authorities described it as “despicable” rather than “criminally significant.” Nothing was done.
Outside the stadium, Atletico Madrid supporters yelled racist epithets in September 2022. The prosecution did not bring charges. In January 2023, a doll sporting Vinicius’ jersey was discovered dangling from a bridge.
Four members of Frente Atletico, the group that supported them, received prison sentences ranging from 14 to 22 months. Over the following few months, there were other incidents, but the offenders faced little to no consequences.
When Vinicius Jr. addressed the stands at the Mestalla in Valencia in May 2023 after being insulted, that moment changed things for him.
Three supporters who participated in the abuse were given two-year stadium bans and eight months in prison in June 2024. In Spain, it was the first sentence of its kind.
A chorus of jeers greeted him upon his return to Mestalla in March 2024. His answer? A raised fist in celebration of two goals.
Racist taunts were directed at him at Mestalla during an Atletico Madrid vs. Inter Milan Champions League game, 11 days following his comeback. Fun part, his team wasn’t even playing.
Four people were jailed on September 29, 2024, for insulting the footballer during the derby against Atletico Madrid by launching a hate campaign on social media under false pretences.
Only last month did several Real Madrid supporters hurl racial taunts at the Brazilian during Alvaro Arbeloa’s Copa del Rey debut against Albacete.
It has been a never-ending story. The Brazilian has been at the receiving end of racial taunts from fans around Spain. But now the nation has started taking strict action against racists, and hopefully it will come to an end in future.
How many times has Vinicius Jr. been targeted for racial abuse?
So far, there have been 20 incidents where he has been racially taunted.
When was the latest incident?
In a Champions League game against Benfica, their player Gianluca Prestianni made a racial comment.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.