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Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. tweeted out a scathing response on Monday after Spanish courts convicted three fans who stood accused of racist abuse against the soccer superstar.
It was the first such conviction in the history of Spain and the fans were sentenced to eight months in prison and a two-year ban from all soccer stadiums in the country.
“Real Madrid, which has played the particular accusation in this procedure with Vinicius Junior, will continue to work to protect the values of our club and eradicate any racist behavior in the world of football and sport,” the club said in a statement.
But it was Vinicius Jr.’s tweet that sent the strongest message.
Muitos pediram para que eu ignorasse, outros tantos disseram que minha luta era em vão e que eu deveria apenas "jogar futebol".
Mas, como sempre disse, não sou vítima de racismo. Eu sou algoz de racistas. Essa primeira condenação penal da história da Espanha não é por mim. É por… https://t.co/NdezpJBjF2
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) June 10, 2024
“Many asked me to ignore it, many others said that my fight was in vain and that I should just ‘play football,'” he began. “But, as I’ve always said, I’m not a victim of racism. I am a tormentor of racists. This first criminal conviction in the history of Spain is not for me. It’s for all black people. May other racists be afraid, ashamed and hide in the shadows. Otherwise, I’ll be here to collect. Thank you to La Liga and Real Madrid for helping with this historic conviction. More to come…”
First off: “I’m not a victim of racism. I’m a tormentor of racists.”
BARS!!!
But beyond that, it’s really impressive to watch the way the that the 23-year-old Brazilian has handled all of this with grace over several years.
He could have “stuck to football.” He could have asked for a transfer to a club in a different country. But instead, he stood behind his beliefs and created real, tangible change in a country that badly needs it.
This is not the end of that fight. In fact, it’s only just the beginning. But it is a very large step in the right direction.