Once again, racism shows its colors in football. Even though you will often see the badges of “no to racism” during UEFA Champions League matches, racism still stays a crucial component of how a section of people ruins the beauty of the sport.
Judgment and mockery of someone’s complexion are major problems in today’s society, and no matter how much we hope that Western culture would remove such horrible thinking, it shows up every time, and we are only to be blamed for this.
Vinicius Junior has faced racist comments and mockeries before, and it is wonderful to see how the young Brazilian only keeps getting better at his job. A quote that is often reminded by Vinicius’s rise is “rise above the hate.” This time around, it is none other than a section of fans of Atletico de Madrid who have done this poor and disgusting racist action.
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Get To Know Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Jose Paixao de Oliveira Junior or popularly known as Vinicius Junior is a Brazilian soccer player. He was signed by Real Madrid for a record signing fee for a 17-year-old. His skills and potential impressed various soccer giants all over the world; however, Real Madrid is a franchise that players cannot ignore.
He had a tough period in previous years. He got criticized for his ineffective and immature playing methods, but the speedster turned it all around. Now, he is considered one of the best players in the world. He had a massive 2021-22 season for Real Madrid. It is safe to say that he will only keep getting better.
Vinicius Junior has been targeted with discriminatory comments before by rival fans. He got scrutinized recently for the popular celebration of Brazilians after scoring goals. This completely proves how people have always considered Vinicius Junior as a scapegoat for certain reasons. One that keeps coming back is racism.
Vinicius Junior: The Recent Victim Of Racial Abuse
The Athletico de Madrid fans targeted their arch-rivals Real Madrid before their much-awaited clash in the Copa del Rey. Reportedly, they put up a banner that read – “Madrid hates Real.” This was hurled and screamed by the fans in Ciudad Deportiva.
This is where it gets worse – the fans pulled a figure or a doll, and its neck was hung. Noticeably, this doll was wearing the home kit of Real Madrid, and it had the name “Vinicius Jr” on its back with his number.
As mentioned before, this is not the first time that Atletico Madrid fans pulled up something so horrible and unjust. Their fan base is considered one of the most racist football fan-base in Spain. Moreover, they made racist comments about Vinicius Junior earlier this season when they met for their match in La Liga.
Atlético Madrid Ultras hang a banner that says “Madrid hate Real” and a manikin wearing a Vinicius Jr. Jersey in a bridge in Madrid. pic.twitter.com/P2GM85uZCg
— Real Madrid Info ³⁵ (@RMadridInfo) January 26, 2023
The Brazilian speedster is one of the best players in the world today, and even though constructive criticism is a necessary element of our life, should such discriminating comments be encouraged? We again question the relevancy of the statement that westernization has brought upon change. However, it is worth noting that the Spanish league and the team both condemned the actions and want to put upon an investigation.
The Spanish League and the club Atletico de Madrid both released an official statement condemning the actions of the fans ahead of the match.
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Atletico de Madrid Statement After The Incident
Atletico Madrid put up a statement and condemned this discriminating action. They released an official statement that stated that their rivalry is one of the greatest in the world, and so is the respect between the institutions.
Furthermore, they added that they condemn such acts of discrimination and repugnance. The official statement put out that actions that attack the dignity and respect of any person or institution are a shame to society and unreserved.
They addressed the racial abuse by putting note upon that it is the fan’s responsibility to remove the societal differences among every ethnicity and co-exist together and make it a better place. Thereon, they announced that they are going forward with an official investigation to look for the offenders and punish them for their offenses by the law.
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