MADRID ( Associated Press) – Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Tuesday that hate attacks against soccer player Vinicius Junior are a problem in Spanish soccer and must be addressed.
Brazil striker Vinicius, who is black, has been the target of hate attacks since arriving in Spain in 2018. The most recent happened on Sunday in a Spanish league match in Mallorca. Last month, he hung an effigy of the footballer on a bridge in Madrid ahead of the cup derby against Atlético de Madrid.
“Does Vinnie have to defend himself, do his teammates have to defend him?” Ancelotti asked on Tuesday, a day before Madrid’s start at the Club World Cup in Morocco.
“Is there a problem with Vinnie?” It seems that the problem is with them, but what happens around them happens. This is a problem of Spanish football and I, who am part of Spanish football, believe that it must be solved. It’s like he’s the perpetrator and the victim of something I don’t understand.”
Vinicius has been outspoken about the humiliation and has repeatedly complained on social media about the treatment.
He has also been targeted for his goal celebrations with dancing and recently his teammates for the number of fouls he receives in games. Last week, Valencia defender Gabriel Paulista was sent off after a harsh foul on Vinicius in a league match.
“Vinicius seems to me to be an incredible person who has many values,” said his teammate Federico Valverde, adding, “I think it’s no different on the pitch.” Like many Brazilians, he tries to enjoy football in his own way, very happy and fun. When a certain player is fouled a lot, it’s part of football, but we have to defend
“As a team-mate, since I arrived in Madrid, he seems to me to be an incredible person who has many values and I think he is no different on the pitch. Like many Brazilians, he tries to enjoy football in his own way, very happy and fun. When a certain player is fouled a lot, it’s part of football, but we have to defend him.”
Racism in Spanish football has attracted more attention recently, but little has been done to punish those involved.
The Spanish league is investigating Sunday’s attack after a fan was shown on television calling it a “monkey”. Vinicius was insulted after the match when he stopped to take pictures and sign autographs.
Authorities have not found those responsible for last month’s hanging of Vinicius’ effigies and so far teams have not been punished for racist insults inside their stadiums.
The first trial in Spain against a fan who made a racist insult will begin this year after an Espanyol fan made comments about Athletic Bilbao striker Iñaki Williams a few years ago.
