Vinicius Junior: Eight years at Real Madrid, 20 cases of alleged racist abuse

The hostility towards Vinicius is real, and has names, dates and court rulings.

The latest incident at the Estadio da Luz represents the twentieth time a player has been subjected to abuse during his time with Real Madrid.

He was humiliated in stadiums all over Spain. He testified in court after a black model wearing his shirt was pinned from a bridge.

He has seen fans punished with suspended sentences for racist abuse in Valencia and Mallorca. This is largely thanks to La Liga’s efforts to ensure that such actions do not remain unpunished within a judicial culture that has long treated “industrial” language and “banter” in football with tolerance.

The chronology of some of the events he endures makes for frustrating reading.

Back in October 2021 during a Clásico match at Camp Nou, a fan shouted racist abuse at him as he was being substituted. The case was closed because the police were unable to identify the perpetrator.

Then in March 2022, Mallorca fans made monkey noises at him and told him he should “go banana picking”.

The authorities were “outraged” and said the incident was “despicable” but not of “criminal significance.” No action taken.

On Spanish football program El Chiringuito, Pedro Bravo, president of the Spanish Football Agents Association, suggested Vinicius “stop acting like a monkey” and respect his opponents.

He later apologized for X, claiming that he had “misused the expression… figuratively to mean ‘messing around'”.

This comment sparked intense anger, especially in Brazil. No further action was taken.

In September 2022, Atletico Madrid fans chanted racist abuse outside the stadium. Prosecutors did not file charges.

Then things got worse.

A dummy wearing a Vinicius shirt was found hanging from a bridge in January 2023. Four members of the Atletico Front supporters group were sentenced to prison terms of between 14 and 22 months, which were later reduced to fines and restraining orders.

More incidents followed over the next few months, all of which resulted in little or no consequences for the perpetrators.

If there was a turning point it came in Valencia at the Mestalla in May 2023, when Vinicius faced the stands after being humiliated.

Later, in extra time, he was sent off after an altercation with Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and punching Hugo Duro in the face.

In June 2024, three fans were sentenced to eight months in prison and banned from entering the stadium for two years for their role in the abuse. It was the first sentence of its kind in Spain.

When he returned to the Mestalla in March 2024, he was met with a chorus of boos. His response? Two goals celebrated with a raised fist.

Sometimes, he doesn’t even have to be at the game to suffer racist taunts.

Eleven days after Mestalla’s return, racist chants were directed at him before the Champions League match between Atletico Madrid and Inter. Real Madrid reported the incident to the Hate Crime Prosecutor’s Office.

Five days later, shouts were heard at Osasuna’s stadium saying, “Vinicius is dying.”

On 29 September 2024, four people were arrested for inciting a hate campaign on social media anonymously for insulting the player during the derby match against Atlético Madrid.

More recently, last February, during a Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Sociedad, referee José María Sánchez Martinez temporarily stopped the match through Spain’s anti-hate protocol.

This was due to chants against another player, but cameras also captured a fan making monkey gestures towards Vinicius during the stoppage. The club broadcast announcements via the PA system and LED screens rejecting xenophobic chants.

Just last month, during Alvaro Arbeloa’s first appearance as Real Madrid coach against Albacete in the Copa del Rey, a group of the team’s fans hurled racist insults at the Brazilian.

La Liga strongly condemned the incident, affirming its support for the player.

And now the Lisbon incident.

You may be wondering why Vinicius keeps fighting back? He gave an answer in June 2024 after the racists who abused him in Valencia were sentenced to prison.

“Many people asked me to ignore it, and others said that my fight was in vain and that I should just play football,” Vinicius said in a post on the X website.

He added, “But, as I have always said, I am not a victim of racism. I am the executioner of racists. This first criminal conviction in the history of Spain is not for me. It is for all black people.”