Spain got their bid for a third consecutive European Championship off to a winning start 1-0 over a dogged Czech Republic thanks to Barcelona defender Gerard Pique's header three minutes from time.
A profligate Spain seemed set to be denied by heroics from Czech Republic captain Petr Cech. The Arsenal goalkeeper made fine first-half saves from Alvaro Morata, Jordi Alba and David Silva, whilst Czech defender Roman Hubnik turned a cross against his own post after the break.
However, the holders' pressure finally paid off when Pique – often booed by Spain fans this season for controversial anti-Real Madrid comments – nodded home Andres Iniesta's cross at the back post.
Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.
“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.
In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.
Ayer pasó esto en el campo del Valencia
Un niño llamando "mono" a Vinicius, y la madre en vez de regañarle se encara con la que graba pic.twitter.com/XGXj4ADsCc
— Gravesen (@GravesenFumado) March 3, 2024
The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.
Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.
The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.
Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.
READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans
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