LALIGA SANTANDER
Vinícius racially abused again in Real Madrid’s draw at Real Betis
LaLiga have filed a complaint with the authorities and are looking for help to identify the perpetrator at Estadio Benito Villamrín.
Sadly, it’s happened again. For the seventh time, LaLiga has filed a complaint due to Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior being subjected to vile racist abuse, which simply must be punished. The latest insults came on Sunday in Los Blancos’ goalless draw against Real Betis at Estadio Benito Villamarín, with audio picked up by television cameras capturing at least one “supporter” repeatedly calling the Brazilian a “monkey”. After the audio came to light, LaLiga, who are in the midst of an ongoing battle to stamp racism out, filed a complaint with the Investigating Courts in Seville in an attempt to find and punish the person responsible.
Racist Mallorca fan found, fined and banned
A similar recent incident, in which Vinícius was the victim of racist abuse in Mallorca, at least offers some cause for optimism. The perpetrator on that occasion - 20-year-old club member - was ‘caught’ and it was discovered that he also hurled racists insults in islanders’ next home match just 13 days later. That second offence, help from Real Mallorca and the work carried out in the background by the police’s identification team meant the racist fan was found. The police recommended that he be fined €3000 and be banned from attending sporting events for six months but National Sports Council of Spain’s final verdict was even more severe: a €4000 fine and a 12-month ban.
LaLiga ask supporters to help ID racist fan
Despite those deterrents, these are some supporters who continue to hurl racist abuse at soccer matches. LaLiga has started working with the police in an effort to find the latest one at the Benito Villamarín and, on top of filing the aforementioned complaint to the Investigating Courts in Seville, has set up a special online channel where other fans can get in touch to share images or any other information which would help to identify the person responsible.
The seventh time that Vinícius has been racially abused since moving to Spain is the seventh time too many.