La Liga has initiated an inquiry following the circulation of a video on social media that allegedly captures a young Valencia fan racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during their 2-2 draw on Saturday night.
ESPN Brazil shared the footage and interviewed the woman who recorded the incident. She revealed that the police were alerted during the game. This match marked Vinicius’ return to the Mestalla since May of the previous year when he faced racial abuse from home fans. Despite the Brazilian’s two goals helping Real Madrid secure a point, a potential late winner was denied after the referee signaled full-time before Jude Bellingham’s header.
Valencia took action last May by banning three fans for racist abuse and receiving a three-game partial stadium ban from the Spanish football federation. Vinicius, after equalizing, also engaged in a heated exchange with Valencia striker Hugo Duro, who accused him of disrespect in his celebration.
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Duro stated, “In the goal, he put his hands over his ears towards the stands, and I blamed him for it, and he told me that I did the same thing. But it’s not the same that I do it at home and that he does it outside home. If I do it at the Bernabeu, they would get angry. I think it’s a bit disrespectful.”
He further added, “I only told him to dedicate himself to playing because, to me, he seems like a plane, he seems like a cucumber. I told him, ‘dedicate yourself to playing because if you do, you would be much better than what you are.'”
The incidents in May prompted widespread concern about racism in Spanish football and society. Vinicius criticized La Liga president Javier Tebas for what he perceived as a poor response.