LALIGA
“Hundreds of fans, young and old chanted ‘monkey’ at Vinicius”
The fallout continues from Sunday’s tense Madrid derby at the Estadio Metropolitano between Atletico and Real Madrid.
Sunday’s Madrid derby was a tense and highly charged affair with the game ultimately overshadowed by incidents following the Real Madrid goal after the hour mark. As Eder Militao put the visitors ahead, a series of objects were thrown at goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois following the Brazilian’s opening strike which saw the game suspended for approximately twenty minutes.
The build-up to the game was also clouded by the online campaign from a sector of Atletico fans appealing for fellow supporters to wear facemasks to the stadium and hence be able to abuse the opposition players without being identified on CCTV.
Despite Courtois being at the centre of the incident that lead to the game being halted, Vinicius Jr. was subjected to a barrage of whistles every time the Brazilian came in contact with the ball but the revelations on Instagram from celebrity photographer Jordan Bajo reveal a more sinister form of abuse aimed at the striker that was not picked up by television cameras.
Worst experience ever
Toulouse born Bajo (who has worked regularly with high profile professional football players in the past and is Eduardo Camavinga’s personal photographer), attended the Estadio Metropolitano derby and denounced a series racist insults from the stands towards Vinicius Jr through via his Instagram account.
“Last night, I underwent the worst footballing experience ever, not due to the game itself but on a human level”
“Hundreds of Atletico fans chanted “monkey” at Vinicius Jr. along with monkey gestures with both adults and young children involved”
“The atmosphere was so highly charged and I am stunned at what I experienced. Racism has no place and I stand by Vini Jr.”
Previous to kick off in the corresponding fixture last season, hundreds of home supporters congregated outside the south stand and chanted ‘Vini is a monkey’ with the pre-game chant on Sunday night being an ironic: ‘Vini is different’.
Atletico Madrid, late on Sunday issued a statement condemning the throwing of objects adding that they will endeavour to identify the culprits with the club anticipating a fine and possible partial stadium closure from LaLiga as punishment for the incidents.