Real Madrid has announced that they’ve officially lodged a complaint against referee Juan Martinez Munuera for what they describe as “voluntary and deliberate” disregard of racist abuse directed at winger Vinicius Junior.
Vinicius, a standout player for Madrid, has unfortunately faced several instances of racial abuse since his arrival in Spain. Following Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Osasuna, in which Vinicius scored twice, Real Madrid accuses Munuera of intentionally omitting any mention of the racial abuse directed at the 23-year-old in his match report.
In their statement, Real Madrid expressed their disappointment, stating, “After the serious insults directed, once again, at our player Vinicius Junior during the recent league match at El Sadar, Real Madrid CF wishes to communicate the following.” The club asserts that the referee neglected to include the insults and humiliating shouts aimed at Vinicius, despite being repeatedly informed by Madrid players during the match.
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Furthermore, Real Madrid has filed a complaint with the Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation regarding the referee’s conduct. They’ve also forwarded complaints to the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance in Sports, seeking identification and punishment for those responsible for the racial abuse.
Vinicius has unfortunately faced racial abuse in Spain before. In May 2023, four individuals were arrested for hanging an effigy of the player from a bridge in Madrid. Additionally, during a La Liga match against Valencia at the Mestalla that same month, Vinicius was subjected to further racial slurs, leading to public condemnation and discussions about racism in Spain.
Real Madrid’s statement also highlights their ongoing efforts to combat racism and discrimination. They’ve expanded previous complaints to the State Attorney General’s Office, seeking identification of perpetrators involved in racist incidents near the Olympic stadium in Montjuic and the Metropolitan stadium in Madrid.
The club strongly condemns these acts of racism, discrimination, and hatred and urges authorities to take decisive action to eradicate such violence. Unfortunately, Vinicius’s fifth yellow card of the season means he will be suspended for Real Madrid’s first game after the March international break against Athletic Club.