Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Jr has hit out at La Liga after being racially abused and sent off in his side’s loss to Valencia on Sunday.
The La Liga fixture between Valencia and Real on Sunday was tainted by news of racism directed at the 22-year-old.
Real Madrid lost the game 1-0, but the match was overshadowed by reports of racism against Vinicius Junior, who was also given a red card in stoppage time after he struck Valencia attacker Hugo Duro.
The player said Valencia fans racially abused him by calling him a ‘monkey.’
After the game, the Brazilian, who has been targeted by rival fans all season, took to social media to slam La Liga for their stance on racism.
“The racists’ prize was my red card. This isn’t football. It’s La Liga,” he wrote on Instagram.
He then posted a powerful message on Twitter, referencing former La Liga superstars Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo.
“It wasn’t the first time, nor the second, nor the third. Racism is normal in La Liga,” he tweeted.
“The competition thinks it’s normal, the Federation does too, and the opponents encourage it. I’m so sorry. The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano and Messi today belongs to racists.
“A beautiful nation, which welcomed me and which I love, but which agreed to export the image of a racist country to the world. I’m sorry for the Spaniards who don’t agree, but today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists. And unfortunately, for everything that happens each week, I have no defence. I agree. But I am strong, and I will go to the end against racists. Even if it’s far from here.”
According to reports in Spain, this is the 10th racial abuse incident Vinicius Junior has suffered this season alone.
Madrid’s boss also slammed the league, indicating he’d take his players off the field if the game does not get stopped.
“If a whole stadium calls a player ‘monkey’, we have to stop the game. I said this to the referee,” he said.
“We have been complaining about this abuse all season, and nothing! It has reached the point where the manager must consider taking his player off because the game is not being stopped. There is something wrong with this league if this happens.”
Meanwhile, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand also spoke about the incident, calling on some of the sport’s biggest names to take action.
“Bro, you need protecting….who is protecting @vinijr in Spain ??” He wrote on Instagram.
“He receives a red card after being choked and receiving racial abuse during the game….wtf.
“How many times do we need to see this young man subjected to this shit?? I see pain, I see disgust, I see him needing help…and the authorities don’t do shit to help him. People need to stand together and demand more from the authorities that run our game.”
“No one deserves this, yet you are allowing it. There needs to be a unified approach to this; otherwise, it will be swept under the carpet AGAIN.”