May 21st, 2023. Valencia CF vs Real Madrid CF @ the Estadio Mestalla. Away from home, at one of the most hostile venues, Real Madrid were not expecting to cruise. They were expecting an angry crowd. They couldn’t have expected what was to happen.
The ball deflects off of a Valencia player and out past the goal line. The assistant referee raises his flag high, then brings it down to point it at the corner flag. Tonì Kroos, a Real Madrid midfielder, walks toward the corner. He places the ball on the outside of the spot. They’re 1-0 down. This is their chance to get back into the game. Everyone’s focus is laser-sharp, except one.
Vinicius Jr veers away from the 6-yard line, looking a fan in the eyes. Lucas Vazquez rushes to his defense, shouting at the fan. It is unclear as to what is going on. Gradually, more and more Madrid players rush beside Vinicius, as more and more Valencia players hold them back. Voices are yelling over each other.
“‘[He called me] a monkey," he says. "This one." Pointing, again. "This one." Other Madrid players join him, angry now, facing down the crowd. "You don't do that," Lucas Vazquez shouts. "F---ing racists. You're racists’” (Kirkland).
The referee activates an electronic banner throughout the stadium, their ‘anti-racism protocol’. They were familiar with the protocol because this wasn’t the first time this had happened in the league. This wasn’t even the first time it happened to Vinicius Jr. It was the eighth. And that only includes reported incidents.
There were chants from the crowd, “Vinicius el mono! Vinicius el mono!” There was online abuse, cowards who hide behind screens, telling him to kill himself. Atletico fans hung an effigy painted black, wearing a Vinicius jersey from a bridge. These aren’t fans.
Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti made his stance clear in a press conference.
"What happened today shouldn't happen," Ancelotti said. "When a stadium yells `monkey' to a player, and the coach considers taking him out of the field because of that, it means that there is something bad in this league…
The game should have been stopped," Ancelotti said. "This shouldn't happen. It wasn't only one person, as it has happened in several stadiums. Here, it was a stadium racially insulting a player, the game had to stop. I would have said the same thing if it was 3-0 for us. You have to stop the game, there was no way around it."
Ancelotti later admitted that Vinicius asked to stop playing.
In an official statement, Valencia wrote,
“THE CLUB STRONGLY CONDEMN THIS BEHAVIOR*, WHICH HAS NO PLACE IN FOOTBALL AND DOES NOT CORRESPOND TO THE VALUES OF VALENCIA CF AND OUR FANBASE…Valencia CF, in line with the club’s permanent commitment against racism and violence in all forms, announce that the police has identified a fan who made racist gestures at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Jr”.
They mentioned the action they were taking by saying,
“Valencia CF have proceeded to open a disciplinary case, will apply the maximum level of severity, including a lifetime stadium ban against the fans involved, and is working closely together with the authorities.”.
Unfortunately, one statement wouldn’t end all the racism in the league. Unfortunately, one statement never could.
On March 26th, 2024, an international friendly was organized between Spain and Brazil. It was named the “One Skin” game. It was held in Real Madrid’s home stadium, the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. It was organized to bring awareness to racism, almost a year after the attack in Vallencia.
The day before, Vinicius gave a press conference. He was asked about the racial abuse he faced.
His responeses shocked the world. One of the top players in the world, explained how he was falling out of love with his sport.
"It's something very sad what I have been going through here," Vinícius said. "It's tough. I've been fighting against this for a long time. It's exhausting because you feel like you are alone. I've made so many official complaints but no one is ever punished."
He broke out into tears. He sat for a moment, recomposing himself.
"More and more I'm losing my desire to play," he said. "But I'll keep fighting."
By Arjun Srivastava