Vinícius Júnior, the Real Madrid and Brazil winger, broke down in tears when asked about the repeated and systematic barrage of racist abuse he has received while playing in La Liga.
Speaking ahead of his national team’s Tuesday night friendly match with Spain, the country where he has played since 2018, Vinícius said: “I just want to play football but it’s hard to move forward … I feel less and less like playing. It never crossed my mind [to leave Spain] because if I leave Spain I give the racists exactly what they want.”
Vinícius has been on the receiving end of 10 episodes of racist abuse that have been reported to prosecutors by La Liga, and spoke haltingly at a press conference held in Madrid, needing to recompose himself on a number of occasions.
“I will stay because that way the racists can continue to see my face more and more. I’m a bold player, I play for Real Madrid and we win a lot of titles and that doesn’t sit well with a lot of people.” Brazil face Spain in a friendly at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu as part of an anti-racism campaign under the slogan “One Skin”.
The winger, whose rebounded shot set up Endrick for Brazil’s winner against England at Wembley on Saturday, said he felt “chosen to defend this important cause”, continuing: “I’ll stay here, playing for the best club in the world and scoring goals and winning titles. And people will have to keep seeing my face for a long time.”
Dani Carvajal, Vinícius’s Madrid teammate, had earlier spoken about racism in Spanish football. “I don’t think Spain is a racist country,” said the Spain full-back. “We have a very high level of integration, I come from a humble neighbourhood, Leganés, and grew up with boys of all types of nationalities. I have a lot of friends with different colour skin.
“Sadly there are people who go to football it seems to let loose all their rage, their anger. When it seems that it hurts someone, they do it more and it’s a pity. Those type of people should not be allowed into stadiums because it’s the ugliest thing that exists in sport.”
Last week, Dorival Júnior, the Brazilian national coach, spoke to the Guardian about the Vinícius situation, saying: “It should be possible to track down the people if the police put their mind to it. It is just like in our country, where many, many people suffer every day. But they are silenced by the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the authorities.”
Fellow Brazil international Rodrygo, also of Real Madrid, told the Guardian he had previously sued social media abusers and advocated tough punishments for the abuse that has become especially prevalent at Madrid’s away matches. “When they start punishing [people], things will change,” said the forward. “But as long as there is no punishment, it will continue. As soon as they start punishing people I think a lot will change.”
