Brazilian winger Vinicius has slammed the La Liga authorities again after he was abused racially in Valencia.
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. says that racism is normal in La Liga as the authorities has taken any decision on the those that have been abusing.
The game was stopped for almost 10 minutes during the second half at Mestalla, after Vinicius identified the fan in the crowd behind the Valencia goal.
“It wasn’t the first time, or the second, or the third. Racism is normal in La Liga,” Vinicius posted on Instagram. “The competition thinks it’s normal, the [Spanish Football] Federation does too, and opponents encourage it.
“I’m so sorry. The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano and Messi, today belongs to racists. A beautiful nation, which welcomed me and which I love, but which has agreed to export the image of a racist country to the world.
“I’m sorry for the Spaniards who don’t agree, but today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists. And unfortunately, with everything that happens each week, I can’t defend it. I agree. But I am strong and I will go to the end against the racists. Even if it’s far from here.”
Speaking to Movistar after the game, Ancelotti backed his player, saying that “LaLiga has a problem” with racism.
“I don’t want to talk about football. I want to talk about what happened here. It’s more important than a defeat,” Ancelotti told Movistar. “What happened here today shouldn’t happen. … There’s something bad happening in this league.
“[Vinicius] didn’t want to continue. I told him it isn’t fair that you have to stop the game. You’re not responsible, you aren’t the guilty one, you’re the victim. And he carried on playing.”
Vinicius was later sent off in the 97th minute after a clash with substitute Hugo Duro, and then sparked a confrontation with the Valencia bench with a gesture suggesting that Valencia were going to be relegated to the second division.
“It’s a senseless red card because it wasn’t aggression,” Ancelotti said. “For me, Vinicius is the most important player in the world, the strongest player in the world. LaLiga has a problem. For me, with these racist incidents, they have to stop the game. Because it isn’t one person. It’s a stadium that insults a player. The game has to stop. I’d say the same if we were winning 3-0. There’s no other way.”
Vinicius received a message of support from home, with Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva calling on the game’s world governing body FIFA to stop racism in football.
“I would like to express my solidarity with our Brazilian player, a poor boy who succeeded in life and is potentially becoming one of the best players in the world, certainly the best at Real Madrid. And he is attacked in every stadium he plays in,” he told a press conference.
“I think it is important that FIFA, the Spanish league and leagues in other countries take real action, because we cannot allow fascism and racism to dominate football stadiums.”
Follow us on all social media platform, @Sportscliffs on Twitter and Instagram and also like our facebook page
