Biography
Vinícius Júnior Stands in Solidarity with Barcelona Players After Racist Abuse During El Clásico
Vinícius Júnior, one of the most prominent victims of racial abuse in football, has publicly supported Barcelona players who were subjected to racist insults during their match against Real Madrid.
The incident occurred on October 27th (KST) during the highly anticipated El Clásico at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Despite the charged atmosphere, Barcelona delivered a stunning 4-0 victory, scoring all four goals in the second half.
Among the goalscorers was Lamine Yamal, who found the net in the 78th minute. Rafinha, using a deft first touch and impressive speed, outmaneuvered Lucas Vázquez and delivered a pass to Yamal, who confidently fired the ball into the top corner of the near post. It was a brilliant strike, one that Yamal celebrated by pointing to his name on his jersey, savoring the special moment.
Unfortunately, some Real Madrid fans directed racist insults toward Yamal following his stellar performance. Due to his Moroccan heritage, the 16-year-old rising star was subjected to slurs such as "cursed Moroccan" and "damn black," along with derogatory remarks like "go sell handkerchiefs." The latter echoed a similar racist comment made to Son Heung-min by Arsenal fans, who told him to "go sell DVDs."
What made the incident even more disheartening was the irony of it happening at the home of Real Madrid, the same club where Vinícius Júnior has suffered repeated racial abuse. As Real Madrid’s key player, Vinícius has been a frequent target of racism, even breaking down in tears earlier this year during a press conference while addressing the pain caused by such treatment. That Real Madrid fans would hurl racist remarks at a rival player, despite their own star enduring similar abuse, is a tragic reflection of the ongoing problem in football.
Vinícius was quick to condemn the behavior of those fans. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he expressed his deep disappointment, writing, "I regret the racial slurs that were heard at the Bernabéu today. There is no place for such crimes in our society. I offer my full support to Yamal, Ansu Fati, and Raphinha. I trust that Real Madrid and the Madrid police will identify and punish those responsible."
Following the match, Real Madrid released a statement vowing to take action against the offending fans. "We deeply regret the insults made by certain fans during the match," the statement read. "The club has already launched an investigation, and disciplinary as well as legal actions will be taken against those involved."
As racism continues to plague football, moments like these highlight the importance of standing against such behavior. Vinícius Júnior's solidarity with Barcelona’s Yamal and other affected players serves as a reminder that the fight against racism transcends rivalry.