A Sevilla FC supporter was identified and expelled from the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium on Saturday evening for “racist and xenophobic behavior” towards Brazilian striker Vinicius during the La Liga match against Real Madrid (1-1) , announced the Andalusian club in a press release.
The Sevillian club specifies that it immediately reported this individual to the authorities and “condemns any racist and xenophobic behavior, even if it is isolated, as in this case” and says it is ready to collaborate with the justice system “to eradicate these attitudes, which do not represent not the supporters of a club like Sevilla.”
In photos published by the Spanish press, we can see a man in white miming a monkey towards Real Madrid player Vinicius Junior, already the victim of racist acts on several occasions last season.
“Congratulations to Seville for this rapid position and this sanction in a new sad episode for Spanish football,” reacted the Brazilian striker on his social networks, rejoicing that “the face of today’s racist is plastered on websites.
Congratulations to Sevilla for their quick positioning and punishment in yet another sad episode for Spanish football.
Unfortunately, I had access to a video of another racist act in this Saturday’s match, this time carried out by a child. I am very sorry that there is no one to… pic.twitter.com/azlZ7ccPNZ
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) October 21, 2023
“Unfortunately I had access to a video of another racist act, this time carried out by a child. It makes me sorry that you have no one to educate you,” he wrote in the same message, considering that it was “isolated episode number 19” since his arrival in Madrid in 2018.
Vinicius, an unwilling leader in the fight against discrimination in Spanish football, calls on the authorities to “do their part and change the legislation” in the face of the multiplication of these acts. “These people must also be punished criminally. This would be a great first step to prepare for the 2030 World Cup (Editor’s note in Spain, Morocco and Portugal). I am here to help,” he added.
Vinicius was heard by the courts on October 5 as part of an investigation into racist insults he suffered in Valencia on May 21.
