On the morning of this Thursday it has appeared in the vicinity of the Real Madrid sports city a banner with the phrase “Madrid hates Real” and a doll hanging by the neck wearing Vinicius’ shirt. An incident that occurs the same day as the duel between Real Madrid and Atlético in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey that has set off alarm bells in the country’s football institutions and organizations. The Superior Sports Council will take these violent acts before the Anti-Violence Commission, the RFEF has already transferred it to Integrity, LaLiga condemns the events, the Police analyze what happened and the soccer players union warns of the increase in hate crimes in soccer.
Given the seriousness of the facts and the growing number of cases with attitudes of hatred and racism, The Anti-Violence Commission will meet extraordinarily next Monday, January 30, at 10:00 a.m., at the headquarters of the State Attorney General’s Office. “In that meeting they will discuss the despicable violent episodes that continue to take place in the sports and social environment, and that Anti-Violence strongly condemns,” the Commission stated in a statement. Which adds: “Antiviolence urges sports entities and fans to respect the integrity, dignity and values that sport represents.”
Not only from the institutions linked to football and sports have condemned the facts, The Movement Against Intolerance has gone one step further and has denounced what happened to the Hate Crimes Prosecutor’s Office. It is not the first attack of hate and racism that Vinicius and Real Madrid have suffered this season. In the previous derby against Atlético there were also offensive chants against the Brazilian. “You are a monkey” or “Drop dead” were two of the phrases chanted by the rojiblanca fans before the game and during. In total, LaLiga has already denounced racist and hateful demonstrations by fans against Vinicius on up to four occasions: he did so because of the chants heard at the Camp Nou in 2021 or those this season at Son Moix, Civitas Metropolitano and Zorrilla.
The Police, who were in charge of removing the banner and the doll with Vinicius’ shirt hanging from the bridge, are analyzing what happened to find the backers of said act.
Statements from RFEF, LaLiga and AFE
Both organizations issued separate statements condemning what happened: “The Royal Spanish Football Federation regrets and strongly condemns the intolerable act carried out prior to the Copa del Rey duel between Real Madrid CF and Club Atlético de Madrid this Thursday. Also, wants to send a message of support to Vinicius, directly threatened by radicals in a deplorable way. These types of demonstrations, loaded with hate, only encourage violence and have no place in our sport. Football must be lived with passion, but always respecting the players, the opponent and the fans. It is unacceptable that this type of vandalism is carried out that does not help at all to the smooth running of a party as beautiful as the Madrid derby can be ”, was the federative message.
“LaLiga strongly condemns the acts of hate and intimidation against Vinicius Jr. Intolerance and violence have no place in our sport. From LaLiga, as on previous occasions, the investigation of the facts will be urged by the state security forces and bodies, in search of the conviction of those responsible and requesting the most severe criminal sanctions, ”LaLiga said in a statement condemning LaLiga. Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, also referred on Twitter to the racist attack suffered by Vinicius: “A message to those who take refuge at night to commit hate crimes, we will locate you, we will get convictions, so that you end up in jail, that is where you should be. Enough already!!!”.
The AFE footballers union also showed its support for Vinicius and warned of the increase in the number of cases that is taking place in Spanish football: “At AFE we always condemn any act that incites violence. In recent months there has been an increase in worrying cases, such as the one that today has had our colleague Vinicius as a victim. We condemn this inadmissible episode, which constitutes a hate crime. AFE is already in contact with different institutions and will appear as a private prosecution in any case that is opened on this intolerable fact.
The Brazilian federation has also issued a statement supporting its footballer: “The CBF vehemently repudiates the racist acts suffered once again by Vinicius. Intolerance and discrimination are not part of sport and must be eliminated from society. We hope that those responsible are identified and punished in accordance with the law. May you always continue dancing, bargaining and, above all, with that smile on your face, Vini! We are with you.
Amnesty International asked the institutions to act against these situations: “Today it is Vinicius, before it was the Williams, Eto’o… We cannot look the other way. Racism distances football from the values it seeks to promote: respect, equality and tolerance. The RFEF, LaLiga, CSD and clubs must act so that situations like these do not occur.