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Vinicius said “Spain is known as a country of racists” after abusive chants were directed towards him at ValenciaThe latest incident of racist abuse towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has been reported to the Spanish prosecutor’s office as a hate crime, the club says.
Following the match, in which the 22-year-old Brazil international was later sent off for violent conduct, he said “La Liga belongs to racists”.
Real Madrid issued a statement on Monday stating that it “considers that such attacks also constitute a hate crime”.
Spanish prosecutors will now decide whether to pursue a criminal investigation.
In a further statement on social media on Monday, Vinicius said: “What is missing to criminalize these people? And punish the clubs sportively? Why don’t the sponsors charge La Liga? Don’t the televisions bother to broadcast this barbarity every weekend?”
He added: “The problem is very serious, and press releases don’t work anymore. Neither does blaming me to justify criminal acts. It’s not football, it’s inhuman.”
‘Another inadmissible episode’ – Brazil governmentVinicius has been the target of racist abuse multiple times this season and the Brazilian government said the incident was “yet another inadmissible episode”.
Its foreign ministry said it “deeply regrets that, until now, effective measures have not been taken to prevent and avoid the repetition of these acts of racism”.
It urged the Spanish government and sport authorities to “take the necessary steps in order to punish the perpetrators and prevent the recurrence of these acts”.
The ministry added: “It also calls on Fifa, the Spanish Federation and the league to apply the appropriate measures.”
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez said on Twitter that there was “zero tolerance for racism in football”.
He added: “Sport is founded on the values of tolerance and respect. Hatred and xenophobia should have no place in our football and in our society.”
Infantino’s plan to stop racismFifa president Gianni Infantino said it was time to “Stop talking, start acting” and set out five points to deal with racism.
He said a three-step process needed to be used across football to deal with incidents of racism in matches – stopping the game, then re-stopping it, and then abandoning the match.
He also called for specific education in schools, an automatic forfeit defeat for the team whose fans caused the match to be abandoned, a worldwide stadium ban, and criminal convictions for those found guilty.
Barcelona coach Xavi called for drastic measures, saying: “You have to stop the match… One insult and everyone goes home.”
In a statement, Real Madrid said it “shows its strongest revulsion and condemns the events that took place yesterday against our player Vinicius Junior”.
The club added: “These facts constitute a direct attack on the coexistence model of our social and democratic state of law.”
La Liga said in a statement it would investigate and take “appropriate legal action” if a hate crime was identified, calling on people to submit any relevant footage.
Valencia saidexternal-link police had “identified a fan who made racist gestures” and that the “club are also working along with the police to confirm the identity of any other potential offenders”.
The club added: “Valencia CF have proceeded to open a disciplinary case, will apply the maximum level of severity, including a lifetime stadium ban against the fans involved, and is working closely together with the authorities.”
Vinicius Jr abuse shows things must change – BalagueVinicius and Tebas Twitter rowWriting on social media after the match, Vinicius said: “The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano and Messi today belongs to racists.”
He then exchanged messages with La Liga president Javier Tebas.
Writing on Twitter, Tebas said Vinicius twice did not turn up for a meeting to discuss what it “can do in cases of racism”.
“Before you criticise and slander La Liga, you need to inform yourself properly,” Tebas said.
Vinicius criticised the post for targeting him instead of the “racists”, saying he wanted La Liga to take “actions and punishments”.
Tebas then replied:external-link “Neither Spain nor La Liga are racist, it is very unfair to say that.
“We have reported nine instances of racist insults this season (eight have been against Vinicius). We always identify the thugs responsible and take the complaints all the way to the relevant bodies who have power to punish them. No matter how few they are, our efforts are relentless.”
He added: “We cannot allow the reputation of a competition which is above all a symbol of unity between communities, where over 200 black players from 42 clubs are welcomed with respect and love from fans every week, to be tarnished.
“Cases of racism are an extremely rare occurrence (nine reports) which we are committed to eliminating altogether.”
Tebas comments called ‘irresponsible behaviour’However, Luis Rubiales, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has invited his Brazilian counterpart Ednaldo Rodrigues to visit the RFEF and asked him “to ignore the irresponsible behaviour of the president of La Liga”.
Rubiales said “we have a serious, behavioural problem;external-link of education, of racism” which requires “a firm response from the federation, but they must let us apply it and so far it has not been the case”.
He added: “The goal we have set for ourselves is that as soon as possible those who have suffered [racist abuse] at some point can say that it is not a problem in Spain.”
Piara Powar, executive director of European football anti-discriminatory body ‘Fare’, told the BBC they had recorded 11 instances of racism inside stadiums this season and that S
Source: BBC Sport | Read More
