Real Madrid denounced on Monday before the Attorney General's Office the racist insults that Vinícius Junior received before and during the Valencia-Real Madrid match at Mestalla. It did so, as he warned in a statement published on his website, with a presentation to the prosecutor's office against hate crimes and discrimination,
Real Madrid shows "its most energetic rejection" after the racist insults received by its player and "condemns the events that happened", which it says "constitute a direct attack on the model of coexistence of our social and democratic State of law".
Vinícius Junior confronts the Valencia fans while being restrained by his teammate Antonio Rudiger. Photo: AP
The full statement
Real Madrid C. F. shows its strongest rejection and condemns the events that happened yesterday against our player Vinícius Junior.
These facts constitute a direct attack on the model of coexistence of our social and democratic State of law. Real Madrid considers that such attacks also constitute a hate crime, so it has filed the corresponding complaint with the Attorney General's Office, specifically with the Prosecutor's Office against hate crimes and discrimination, so that the facts are investigated and responsibilities are purged.
Article 124 of the Spanish Constitution establishes as functions of the Public Prosecutor's Office to promote the action of justice in defense of legality and the rights of citizens and the public interest. For this reason, and given the seriousness of the events, Real Madrid has gone to the Attorney General's Office, without prejudice to its appearance as a private accusation in the proceedings that are initiated.
Thebes' response
Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, said on Sunday that "neither Spain nor LaLiga are racist", in response to a message from Brazilian Vinícius Junior in which the Brazilian player of Real Madrid assured that the image of the competition is "faltering" and that the leader, instead of criticizing the racists, attacks him.
"Instead of criticizing racists, the president of LaLiga appears on social media to attack me. No matter how much he talks and pretends not to read, the image of his league is shaky," Vinícius responded in a chain of tweets with Tebas on Sunday night after the incidents that occurred in Mestalla, where the striker identified a fan who insulted him from the stands and referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoechea activated the anti-racism protocol.
The president of LaLiga returned to respond publicly to the Real Madrid player and his accusations with four points in his arguments. "Neither Spain nor LaLiga are racist, it's very unfair to say that," he began.
Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga. Photo: REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
"From LaLiga we denounce and pursue racism with all the harshness within our competences. This season racist insults have been reported 9 times (8 of them have been for insults against Vinícius). We always identify the energúmenos and raise the complaint to the sanctioning bodies. It doesn't matter if they are few, we are always relentless," he added.
Finally, Tebas defended the work being done in LaLiga, which has increased the presence of workers in the stadiums to report insults, disregard to the rival and any incident that occurs in the stands. Doubling the presence of staff in Real Madrid matches after what Vinícius experienced in several cities.
"We cannot allow the image of a competition that is above all a symbol of union between peoples to be tarnished, where more than 200 black players in 42 clubs receive the respect and affection of all the fans every day, racism being an extremely specific case (9 complaints) that we are going to eradicate", Sentenced.
Mbappé's banking
Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe sent a message of support to Real Madrid striker Vinícius Júnior, who suffered racist insults on Sunday.
"You are not alone. We are with you and we support you," Mbappe wrote on Instagram.
Kylian Mbappé came out to support Vinícius on his social networks. Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Brazilian clubs, players and politicians — including President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva — have expressed support for Vinícius and criticized racism in the Spanish league.
The first trial of a fan accused of racist insults in Spanish professional football is expected this year, in a case involving Athletic Bilbao striker Iñaki Williams, who was attacked by an Espanyol fan in a match in 2020.
Sources: EFE and AP
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