During the Spanish league football match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on May 21, 2023, Real Madrid’s Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior (3R) challenges Valencia’s officials as he exits after being thrown off the pitch by the referee. The match took place on May 21, 2023.
Vinicius Junior, a prominent player for Real Madrid, received racial slurs while playing for Valencia in a Spanish league match on Sunday, and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil issued a statement on Monday condemning those who made the comments.
Lula stated that he wanted to convey a message of “solidarity” to the 22-year-old forward as he was speaking at a press conference held at the conclusion of the G7 meeting in Hiroshima, Japan.
“There was an assault on him. “Monkey” was a nickname for him, according to Lula.
“In the middle of the 21st century, it is not conceivable for there to be so significant racial prejudice in so many football stadiums.
“It’s unjust that a poor kid who’s done so well in life, who may be on the way to becoming the best in the world — he’s certainly the best at Real Madrid — gets insulted at every stadium where he plays,” said one commentator. “He’s certainly the best at Real Madrid.”
Real Madrid was defeated by Valencia by a score of 1-0 on Sunday, but the game was stopped for several minutes in the middle of the second half after it looked that Vinicius was subjected to racial insults by a Valencia supporter.
Then, towards the end of the game, Vinicius was sent off for striking Valencia’s Hugo Duro during a melee, which led to the match devolving into complete anarchy.
After the game, Vinicius took to social media to vent his frustration after being subjected to racial slurs on many occasions in Spain.
“This wasn’t the first time, nor the second, nor the third time that it had happened. In La Liga, racism is the accepted standard. According to what he stated, “what was once the league of Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano, and Messi has now become the league of racists.”
“However, I am powerful, and I will battle the bigots to the very end. Even if it is quite a distance from here.” Lula issued a plea for “serious measures” to be taken by FIFA as well as the Spanish league.
“We can’t allow fascism and racism to take hold in football stadiums,” he stated. “We can’t.” On social media, there was an outpouring of people showing their support for Vinicius.
The discriminatory abuse he has experienced in Spain has been decried by a number of people, including fellow Brazilian international Richarlison, retired football great Ronaldo, and music icon Gilberto Gil.