LaLiga has confirmed that it will be reporting the “deplorable racist chants” from a group of Atlético Madrid fans to the Spain prosecutors’ office. The chants containing the words “Vinícius chimpanzee” were directed at Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior and were captured in a video circulating on social media platforms. This incident of racial abuse took place outside the Metropolitano stadium prior to the Champions League game against Inter Milan.
The UEFA, Europe’s football governing body, has the authority to take action if the racist incident occurred within the stadium precinct and has been duly reported. Despite the fact that the chanting happened outside the stadium, LaLiga has taken a strong stance by reporting the chants to the prosecutors’ office specializing in hate and discrimination crimes. The commitment of LaLiga to ensuring a football environment that is free of hate is evident in their proactive approach against racism, homophobia, violence, and hatred.
Vinícius Júnior, who has been a victim of racist abuse in Spain since joining Real Madrid five years ago, addressed the recent incident on his social media. In an appeal to UEFA, he expressed his disappointment and called for action to be taken swiftly against those responsible for the racist chants. The young Brazilian player highlighted the sad reality of racism in football games, even when he is not physically present on the field.
Previous Complaints and Advocacy
It is worth noting that LaLiga has filed multiple complaints to authorities regarding racist insults or chants directed at Vinícius Júnior by opposing fans. In a past incident during a league game at Valencia, three individuals were accused of making racist remarks towards the player. Vinícius provided evidence via videolink, showcasing the severity of the issue at hand. Both the Brazil Football Confederation (CBF) and the Brazilian government have urged Spanish authorities to take decisive action against racist attacks on Vinícius Júnior.
In an effort to combat racism, LaLiga introduced a system to monitor hate speech on social media platforms. President Javier Tebas acknowledged the challenges faced in detecting racism problems within Spanish football earlier on. The upcoming international friendly between Spain and Brazil at Real Madrid’s Bernabéu stadium on March 26 aims to raise awareness about racism in football and promote inclusivity within the sport.
Through proactive measures, collaboration with authorities, and advocacy against hate, LaLiga continues its fight to eradicate racism and discrimination from the beautiful game of football. The solidarity shown towards Vinícius Júnior in addressing these issues reinforces the importance of unity and respect in sports.
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