Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior has discussed the racism issue in Spain, claiming the country should lose its right to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup if the situation does not improve. Vinicius Jr. also pledged to do everything in his power to help the country “evolve” before the showpiece event.
Real Madrid Star Vinicius Jr. Has Suffered Racism In Spain
One of the best players in Europe, Vinicius Jr. has been subjected to racial abuse time and again in Spain. In October 2021 at Barcelona‘s home ground, Camp Nou, a home fan called him “monkey.” La Liga investigated the case but could not identify the perpetrator. Almost a year later, agent Pedro Bravo took aim at Vinicius Jr. on the Spanish TV show “El Chiringuito”, asking him not to dance and “stop acting the monkey.”
In January 2023, ahead of a Copa del Rey quarter-final clash between Atletico and Real Madrid, Atletico fans hung a mannequin wearing Vinicius’ shirt from a bridge. There was also a banner that read “Madrid hates Real.” Later in May, Valencia fans targeted Vinicus in a La Liga game, calling him a “monkey” and disrespecting him with obscene gestures. After an investigation, Valencia received a hefty $29,273 fine and three of their fans were arrested.
As per ESPN, Valladolid, Osasuna, Sevilla, Mallorca, and Betis fans have also taken racially-charged digs at Vinicius Jr., at one time or the other.
Vinicius Jr. Thinks Spain Should Lose 2030 World Cup Hosting Rights If It Cannot Fix Racism Issues
Having been a target of racism, Vinicius Jr. knows how badly it can affect a player’s psyche. Speaking on CNN, he asked authorities in Spain to either make the country welcoming for all races or lose the 2030 FIFA World Cup hosting rights.
The Brazil international said:
“I hope that Spain can evolve and understand how serious it is to insult someone based on the color of their skin. Until 2030, we have a very large margin for evolution. So I hope that Spain can evolve and understand how serious it is to insult a person based on the color of their skin, because if by 2030 things do not evolve, I think we need to change the location (of the World Cup), because if the player does not feel comfortable and does not feel safe playing in a country where he may suffer racism, it’s a bit complicated.
“I want to do everything possible for things to change, because there are many people in Spain, the majority, who are not racist. It is a small group that ends up affecting the image of a country where it is very good to live. I love playing for Real Madrid. I love Spain, having the best conditions to live here with my family. We hope that things can evolve more, they have already evolved so far, but they can evolve much more and by 2030, cases of racists and racism can and must decrease.”
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be a historic one, as three continents will come together for the event. The centennial World Cup will kick off in South America, where Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will serve as host nations. After the countries host one match each, the tournament will shift to Europe and North Africa, with Spain, Morocco, and Portugal hosting the matches.
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