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Real Madrid file complaint after latest racist insults towards Vinicius

Spanish club Real Madrid announced Friday that it had filed a complaint regarding the racist insults made against Vinicius Junior before Atletico Madrid and Barcelona's midweek Champions League matches.

Published: 16 March 2024 07:28 CET
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #07 Vinicius Junior reacts During a game
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #07 Vinicius Junior reacts during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and RC Celta de Vigo in Madrid on March 10, 2024. Real Madrid have filed a complaint after the latest racist insults towards him. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP)

“Real Madrid C. F. has filed a complaint with the Official State Prosecutor over hate and discrimination offences pertaining to the racist and hateful abuse aimed at our player Vinicius Junior,” said the club in an official
announcement.

“Real Madrid condemns these violent attacks of racism, discrimination and hate… which have sadly been a recurrent and ongoing concern for some time.”

The complaint comes in the wake of videos on social media showing racist chants aimed at Vinicius by Atletico Madrid fans outside the Metropolitano Stadium before Wednesday’s Champions League match against Inter Milan.

On Thursday, the 23-year-old called on the Champions League and European football’s governing body UEFA to take action against the supporters.

“It’s a sad reality that happens even during matches where I am not present,” Vinicius added in the message posted on X.

Real allege that similar abuse could also be heard “in the areas surrounding the Montjuic Olympic Stadium” ahead of Barcelona’s home Champions League tie with Napoli on Tuesday.

The club said that it had requested security footage from the two locations be assessed in order to identify the perpetrators.

Vinicius has faced racial abuse since he joined Real in 2018, with the latest incident coming shortly after a different video appeared to show a fan making racist insults towards Vinicius during a match against Valencia on
March 3.

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SPORT

Atlético Madrid hit with partial stadium closure after racist abuse

Atlético Madrid must partially close their stadium for two La Liga matches after Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams suffered racial abuse there, the Spanish football federation said.

Published: 1 May 2024 17:00 CEST
Atlético Madrid hit with partial stadium closure after racist abuse

The Spain international heard monkey chants directed at him in the first half of his team’s 3-1 defeat at Atlético’s Metropolitano stadium in Spain’s top flight on Saturday.

“(Atlético have been issued) a sanction of partial closure of their sports venue for a period of two matches and a financial penalty of €20,000 ($21,350),” said the federation’s competition committee in a statement.

READ ALSO: World Cup winner Del Bosque to watch over Spain’s scandal-hit federation

One area of Atlético’s stadium will be shut for the upcoming league matches against Celta Vigo and Osasuna, as they strive for a top four finish.

“I went to take the corner and I heard monkey noises,” said Williams after Saturday’s game.

“There weren’t many of them. There are stupid people everywhere… I hope this changes bit by bit.”

Williams scored after the abuse and celebrated by pointing to his arm in reference to his skin colour.

“(The celebration) was with a bit of anger, it’s not normal to be insulted for the colour of your skin,” he added.

Spanish football has suffered a spate of racist incidents in recent years, many of which have been aimed at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior.

The Brazil international earned global support after facing off with a fan who was abusing him last year at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium, which also faced subsequent partial closure.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: The racism problem that has blighted Spanish football

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