A prestigious success. At home, Valencia won 1-0 against Real Madrid thanks to a goal from Diego Lopez (33rd). A victory that allows Ruben Baraja's men to ensure their maintenance in La Liga. Doubled by Atlético Madrid, Real fell to third place in the league.
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But the important thing was elsewhere in this match. On several occasions during the match, Vinicius was allegedly the victim of racist abuse from Valencia fans. Alerted, the referee assured to follow the protocol but did not stop the match. At the end of extra time (90+7), the young Brazilian striker was sent off after a general brawl. A meeting ended in a hostile climate.
See alsoVinicius again insulted, "La Liga has a problem with racism" swears Ancelotti
Real Madrid in support of Vinicius
After the match, Carlo Ancelotti strongly condemned this situation. "La Liga has a problem with racism," said the former PSG coach. After the multiple incidents that punctuated Real Madrid's match at Mestalla, Carlo Ancelotti revealed that he had offered his player to take him out to protect him and denounced the seriousness of the situation. "Thinking about taking a player out because of racism, it had never happened to me. What happened today has happened to us before, but in this way, no. This is unacceptable. Spain's La Liga has a problem with racism. And the problem is not Vinicius. Vinicius is the victim. But there is a very serious problem," said the Italian coach at a press conference.
The Brazilian striker's teammates have also given him their support. "In all the stadiums in Spain, people are constantly disrespecting Vinicius," midfielder Dani Ceballos told Movistar at the final whistle. "If Vini had said I'm leaving the field, I would have gone with him. It's something we can't tolerate," said Real's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who said he heard "monkey cries around the 20th minute."
Vinicius explained on Instagram
A few minutes after the match, it was on social networks that Vinicius spoke. "What the racists have won is my expulsion. It's not football. It's La Liga," the 22-year-old said on his Instagram account after the match.
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It was not the first time, nor the second nor the third. Racism is normal in La Liga. The competition thinks it's normal, the federation and the opponents encourage it too. I'm really sad. The league that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano and Messi now belongs to racists," continued the young Brazilian player, bitter.
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What the racists have gained is my expulsion. It's not football. It's La Liga." Instagram Vinicius.
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A beautiful nation, which welcomed me and which I love, but which agreed to export the image to the world of a racist country. Sorry for the Spaniards who disagree, but today in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists," he later added on Instagram.
Valencia opens investigation
In a statement released after the match, Valencia CF said it "publicly condemns any kind of insult, attack or contempt", and "regrets the facts that occurred" on Sunday, evoking, however, an "isolated act".
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The club is investigating the events that took place and will take the most severe measures," Valencia said in a statement.