Dhe Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has punished FC Valencia with a partial exclusion of fans for the racist incidents against Brazilian international Vinicius Junior. As the association announced on its website, no spectators are allowed on the south stand of the Mestalla Stadium for five games. The competition committee justified the decision by saying that it was proven that in the game against Real Madrid there were racist abuse against Real striker Vinicius, which disrupted the normal course of the game and should be classified as a very serious offence.
The incidents were recorded in the match report of the referee. In addition, a fine of 45,000 euros was imposed on FC Valencia. The club can appeal against this within ten days.
Unbanned for Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Jr. escapes suspension after being sent off. The Spanish FA’s competition committee announced on Tuesday evening that it had annulled the red card against the racist striker. According to his report, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea sent Vinicius off in injury time “for hitting an opponent in the face with his arm when the ball was out of play”. However, the league now stated that the referee could not comprehensively assess the overall situation.
In Spain, a total of seven people were arrested on Tuesday on two different counts of hate crimes. According to official information, among them were three people suspected of having racially insulted Vinicius Junior in the “Royal” game in Valencia on Sunday. After an interrogation, they were released under conditions.
Vinicius accused the Spanish professional league on Twitter of considering racism as “normal”. League boss Javier Tebas rejected this accusation and emphasized that nine racist incidents had been reported to the judiciary this season. Vinicius was the victim of hostilities in eight of them.
Meanwhile, dozens of people demonstrated in front of the Spanish consulate in Sao Paulo in connection with the recent racist attacks against 22-year-old Vinicius. Participants in the demonstration in the Brazilian metropolis shouted “LaLiga racista” and called for action by the Spanish government, as the newspaper “Folha de S. Paulo” reported on Tuesday evening (local time). Signs read “Vinicius Jr. We are with you” and “This is not football, this is racism”.
Valladolid and Barcelona players show solidarity against racism
:
Image: AFP
The incident quickly became political. The hostilities against Vinicius were sharply criticized by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, among others. Leading conservative politicians in Spain also condemned any kind of racism, but rejected Vinicius’ accusation that Spain is now considered a “country of racists” in Brazil, among other countries.
In Brazil, some media commentators and politicians have called for the Brazilian federation CBF to shelve plans to host a friendly against an as yet undecided African side in Spain in June.
