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23-year-old Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. is one of the world’s top soccer players.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t spared the Brazilian winger from facing constant racist abuse from Spanish fans across La Liga.
On Monday, while on international duty with Brazil, the young star was brought to tears while discussing his ongoing fight against rampant racism from Spanish fans.
❤️🩹🇧🇷 Vinicius got emotional during the Brazil's press conference after three questions about racism.
“I’m sorry. I just want to play football, do everything for my club and my family, never see black people suffering.pic.twitter.com/TVSj20vsCN
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 25, 2024
“Racism is very sad and with every news story I feel sadder,” he said, when asked why he had been targeted. He stuttered and his voice was cut short by tears for the first time. “It’s happening a lot in Spain, but also all over the world.”
He then spoke about how governing bodies across the world could do more.
“They have managed to make racism a crime in Brazil and that has meant that there are fewer cases,” Vinicius Jr said. “I thank Ednaldo, the first black president of our federation, for being here.”
He thanked La Liga, who he said were “doing well, but they can’t punish people because racism is not a crime here”, and Real Madrid.
La Liga president Javier Tebas previously criticized the player following racist abuse from Valencia last year and was later forced to apologize.
Vinicius’ comments came as part of a press conference ahead of a friendly match between Brazil and Spain on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. The match was organized, in part, to combat the rampant racism among Spanish fans.
Dani Carvajal Fails To Support Teammate Vinicius Jr. Amid Racist Abuse
Though Real Madrid teammate Dani Carvajal, who is set to play for Spain, did little to back his club teammate.
“I don’t think Spain is racist country. We have a very high level of integration. I see it in the neighborhood I’m come from. I have many friends with a different skin color,” Carvajal said of the repeated incidents. “There are people who go to matches to vent, to insult, to hurt with things they know that hurt. I hope those people stop entertaining the stadiums.”
Carvajal also previously supported former Spanish soccer president Luis Rubiales, who was removed after he kissed a player on the Spanish women’s national team without her consent following Spain’s victory at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.