Everything has started long ago, with Vini Jr. being prey of racist attacks (verbal and not only) quite often. Going back in 2021 La Liga reported racist insults aimed at the Brazilian to the prosecutor's office and these times the Brazilian has been waiting for the Liga to take action again. Some weeks after the beginning of this season Vini was again attacked in many ways due to his dancing and celebrating ways after scoring goals. He has been called different unpleasant nicknames and insults and has also been told to stop celebrating when scoring… All of this is definitely affecting his performances on the pitch as well!
The situation has become even more difficult despite all of his colleagues and many fans have been supporting him. The Brazilian star is fed up with the racist insults that he's been hearing in several LaLiga stadiums, and after the restart of La Liga in 30 December 2022, in the game against Valladolid, the forward posted a message on Instagram regarding the situation. He stated: Vinicius Jr. shared on his social media a picture of himself with Benzema and wrote, "God bless us! Racists continue to go to stadiums and watch the biggest club in the world up close and @LaLiga continues to do nothing ... I will continue with my head held high and celebrating my victories and those of Madrid. In the end it's MY fault."
When Vinicius was substituted in the game against Valladolid, he was close to being hit by objects thrown from the stands, even kicking one while was still in the air. Many footage videos that became viral appeared to show verbal racial abuse coming from some of the home fans in a clear and undeniable way. Later on Saturday, the player himself criticized La Liga, saying the league "continues to do nothing" about racist fans.
Real Valladolid president Ronaldo Nazario took to social media to condemn the racial abuse suffered by Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior at his club's ground. The Brazilian legend made it very clear that racism will not be tolerated at Pucela and that the club will support all efforts to punish the individuals responsible. Furthermore, Ronaldo offered full solidarity to his compatriot Vini Jr.
Ronaldo, in his statement on Twitter, wrote: "Lamentable, repugnant, shameful, inadmissible. The racists and xenophobes do not represent us. Vini Jr, all my support, respect and affection. Real Valladolid is at the authorities' full disposition to cooperate in the investigation so that those responsible can be distanced from the club. We will not allow racist insults at our club because our fans are not like that and these people do not represent us”.
The Spanish league issued an official statement on Tuesday saying that "LaLiga has filed the corresponding charges regarding the racist insults directed against footballer Vinicius Jr in the match between Real Valladolid and Real Madrid during the last matchday, before the relevant judicial, administrative and sporting bodies". They will be making some changes including having more integrity officers present at stadiums.
The full statement went as follows:
"A criminal charge for hate crimes has been filed with the Valladolid Magistrates' Courts, supported by audiovisual evidence gathered in the investigation carried out through images and audio clips published on open sources. LaLiga has also asked the Valladolid Magistrates' Courts to transfer the complaint to the Public Prosecutor's Office for Hate Crimes so that it can participate in the case. In addition, and as has been the case for several seasons, a report of the racist insults has been submitted to the RFEF Competition Committee and the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport, to be studied and assessed for a sanction".
"La Liga will also increase its ongoing efforts to eradicate any kind of violence, racism or xenophobia inside and outside stadiums. As a result, the number of La Liga integrity officers present at matches where there is a risk of racist insults will be increased, in order to maximise detection and identification of this type of behaviour, which has no place in sport. Furthermore, in stadiums where there is considered to be a risk of possible racist behaviour in the stands, messages will be broadcast over the public address system and advertising hoardings surrounding the pitch to combat and condemn racism".
"La Liga's objective is zero violence in sport and in order to achieve this, a variety of training, prevention, detection and reporting practices are carried out on each matchday, which are then reported to the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport, as well as to the Public Prosecutor's Office for Hate Crimes. Similarly, LaLiga denounces and takes legal action as a plaintiff in any criminal proceedings related to violent acts occurring in the sphere of football. LaLiga continues to work with clubs, players, authorities and all parties involved in the sport to ensure that there is no place for violent or racist behaviour in football".
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