The Spanish league said Monday it will investigate the
latest attacks after television images showed someone calling him a monkey
during Real Madrid’s 1-0 loss at Mallorca on Sunday.
Vinícius was also insulted after the match when he stopped
to pose for photos and sign autographs for fans.
Vinícius, who is Black, has been subjected to insults since
he came to play in Spain five years ago, and last month the attacks reached a
new level when his effigy was hanged off a bridge in Madrid ahead of the derby
against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey.
He had also been targeted by fans in other stadiums before,
including at Barcelona’s Camp Nou. The hate attacks also occurred in games at
Valladolid and Athletic Bilbao.
The league has been reporting the insults to the Spanish
soccer federation and to local authorities, and said it would do the same this
time after “intolerable racist insults against Vinícius were again observed.”
The league said it was “working with RCD Mallorca to
identify those responsible in order to take all necessary legal measures.” To
speed up the process, the league said it created an email
(StopRacismo@laliga.es) so fans who may have images or knowledge of those
responsible can make contact and help it file the appropriate complaints.
Authorities were yet to find those responsible for hanging
Vinícius’ effigy before the game against Atletico, and so far teams have not
been punished for the racist insults against the Brazilian inside their
stadiums.
An anti-violence committee said it was studying punishment
to the Valladolid fans who insulted Vinícius in a match in December, which
could include fines of 4,000 euros ($4,300) to each individual identified, as
well as banning them from sports venues for one year.
Last year a large group of Atletico fans chanted “Vinícius,
you are a monkey” outside Metropolitano Stadium, but Spanish state prosecutors
closed a probe into the case citing a lack of evidence and downplayed its
seriousness because the chants allegedly came within the rivalry setting of a
soccer match.
The first trial against a fan who racially insulted a player
in Spain is expected to begin this year following remarks by an Espanyol
supporter against Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams a few years ago.
Vinícius has been outspoken about the attacks against him
but has yet to comment on the events from Sunday.
Real Madrid has also complained about how Vinícius, a speedy
attacker known for his nifty dribbles, has been targeted by opposing players on
the field. Valencia defender Gabriel Paulista was sent off in a game last week
after a vicious foul on the Brazilian. Vinicius was also roughed up several
times against Mallorca.
The 22-year-old Vinícius was also recently engulfed in
controversy for his dancing in goal celebrations.
“There is an environment being created surrounding Vinícius
that doesn’t really help anyone, neither Vinícius nor the fans, who end up
provoking him without really knowing why,” Madrid defender Nacho Fernández said
after Sunday’s match. “It’s time to put these controversies and nonsense to the
side.” -AP
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