Real Madrid players wear Vinicius Junior’s jersey before La Liga game
MADRID (AP) — Vinícius Júnior was not on the sector however his Real Madrid teammates all got here out carrying his No. 20 jersey in help of the Brazil ahead forward of the sport in opposition to Rayo Vallecano within the Spanish league on Wednesday.
Vinícius got here out briefly to salute the followers as Madrid gamers, together with these not within the squad for the sport, lined up with their backs to the stands exhibiting Vinícius’ jersey. Vinícius watched the match alongside membership president Florentino Pérez.
In the twentieth minute, followers applauded and chanted his title, many standing. The Brazilian stood up and saluted again from the VIP part.
Outside the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, many followers arrived displaying messages condemning racism and praising Vinícius. Inside, an enormous banner was displayed behind one of many objectives with the phrases “We are all Vinicius. Enough.”
As a part of a brand new anti-racism marketing campaign by the Spanish league, the Spanish soccer federation and the federal government, a banner with the phrases “racists out of soccer” was held by gamers from each squad earlier than the match. Players from each groups wore armbands with anti-racism messages. Slogans in opposition to racism have been proven through the nationwide and worldwide broadcast of the sport.
Vinícius, who on Sunday was subjected to yet one more case of racial abuse, didn’t play due to what the membership mentioned was a minor knee drawback.
Vinícius was proven a crimson card for an altercation within the match in opposition to Valencia on Sunday, however the card was later rescinded as a result of video evaluation didn’t present the referee pictures of the complete altercation, together with the half during which the Brazilian was grabbed from behind by an opponent.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti had mentioned he thought-about giving Vinícius some relaxation whatever the suspension following the aggravating days he went by means of after the most recent case of abuse in opposition to him.
Earlier Wednesday, Valencia mentioned it might attraction the partial closure of its stadium following the racial abuse directed at Vinícius in a league match, saying the punishment is “unfair and disproportionate.”
Spanish soccer’s competitors committee late Tuesday fined Valencia in 45,000 euros ($48,500) and closed one of many sections of Mestalla Stadium for 5 video games in what’s the strongest ever punishment for a membership in a case of racism in Spain.
The punishment was a part of a powerful response by soccer officers and Spanish authorities following an outpouring of help for Vinícius after he was focused by Valencia followers on Sunday.
Vinícius, who’s Black, has been subjected to repeated racial insults since he arrived to play in Spain 5 years in the past. The 22-year-old Brazil ahead closely criticized Spain and its lack of motion in opposition to racism after the most recent incident in opposition to him.
“Valencia wants to express its complete disagreement and indignation over the unfair and disproportionate penalty imposed by the competition committee,” the membership mentioned in an announcement early Wednesday. “Valencia wants to publicly denounce that the evidence shown by the committee contradicts what the police and La Liga say. This sanction is based on evidence that the club has not been able to see.”
Valencia additionally complained that it was not given an opportunity to defend itself earlier than the ruling was made. The membership mentioned it has been cooperating with police from the beginning and has acted strongly to sentence what occurred at its stadium.
Valencia mentioned not lengthy after the sport it might work with authorities to establish these liable for the abuse, and a day later it banned one individual for all times for being concerned within the incident in opposition to Vinícius.
With the membership’s cooperation, police arrested three individuals on suspicion of a hate crime for his or her allege abuse in opposition to the Brazilian on Sunday, with all being banned for all times from the stadium. The the membership mentioned that was the utmost punishment it might impose.
“To punish fans who were not involved in these lamentable incidents is a measure completely disproportionate, unfair and unprecedented,” Valencia mentioned. “We will fight against it until the end.”
The three individuals spoke to police and have been let loose because the investigation in opposition to them continues. Four different individuals have been detained in Madrid after being accused of hanging an effigy of Vinícius off a freeway bridge in January. They are anticipated to testify earlier than a choose who will then resolve on whether or not to take the case any additional.
Fans have been fined and banned earlier than for assaults on Vinícius, however thus far nobody in Spain has ever gone to trial on felony fees for racially abusing a participant.
Spain created a particular legislation in opposition to violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sports activities in 2007, and since then an anti-violence fee composed of a number of entities has been accountable for monitoring and denouncing circumstances which will break the legislation.
But the present laws stipulates that not all circumstances of racism could be punished criminally, solely these in which there’s an additional ingredient affecting the sufferer. Most circumstances, together with many just like those involving the followers in Valencia, find yourself falling right into a class during which punishment solely consists of fines and bans from stadiums.
Valencia, which continues to be combating in opposition to relegation to the second division, has one residence recreation left within the league this season, in opposition to Espanyol on Sunday. Espanyol can also be attempting to keep away from demotion. Valencia is in thirteenth place, 5 factors from the relegation zone.
The part of Mestalla that shall be closed is the place the insults in opposition to Vinícius got here from, behind one of many objectives. It’s additionally the place the membership’s extra hardcore followers normally are positioned.
The committee late Tuesday additionally rescinded the crimson card proven to Vinícius in a extremely uncommon choice drew shock by many.
“Acts of racism and insults must be censored, but what happens on the field is different,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez mentioned. “It’s clear that there was an aggression (by Vinícius) and I am surprised that they took away the red card. One thing has nothing to do with the other.”
Late Tuesday, about 100 Brazilian protestors gathered exterior the Spanish consulate in Sao Paulo to sentence the racist abuse in opposition to Vinícius. The protesters chanted “La Liga is racist” and “end with racism in Spain and in Brazil” for about an hour.
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