Real Madrid filed a complaint with Spanish hate crime prosecutors over the racist abuse suffered by Vinicius Junior in their 1-0 defeat at Valencia on Sunday, while the president of the country’s football federation said “Spain has a problem with racism.”
The LaLiga match at Mestalla was stopped during the second half after the Brazil international identified a fan in the crowd behind the Valencia goal as having racially abused him.
After discussions between Vinicius, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea and Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, the game continued, with fans being warned over the stadium’s public address system about racist abuse, in accordance with UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
Vinicius was later sent off in added time after a clash with Valencia substitute Hugo Duro, before a further confrontation with the Valencia bench.
“Real Madrid expresses its outright rejection and condemns the events that occurred yesterday involving our player Vinícius Junior,” Madrid said in a statement on Monday. “These events constitute a direct attack on the coexistence model of our social and democratic state of law.
“Real Madrid considers that such attacks also constitute a hate crime, and therefore it has filed the relevant complaint with the state prosecutor’s office, specifically the prosecutor’s office against hate crimes and discrimination, so that the facts can be investigated and responsibilities determined.”
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez met with Vinicius on Monday and issued the following statement.
“The president of Real Madrid has met with Vinicius Junior to show his support and affection and to inform him about the steps that are being taken in his defense as well as to confirm that the club will exhaust all avenues in the face of this hateful situation.”