VALENCIA-REAL MADRID
What happened to Vinicius Jr in the 2023 Valencia - Real Madrid match at Mestalla?
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid face Valencia CF at Mestalla on Saturday in the matchday 27 clash of the 2023/24 LaLiga campaign.
Real Madrid head to Mestalla on Saturday as Carlo Ancelotti’s side look to maintain their grip at the top of the LaLiga table as the Santiago Bernabeu outfit hold a six point lead over second place Girona.
This will be the first time that Los Blancos and Brazilian striker return to Valencia with the last Mestalla meeting overshadowed by episodes of racist chanting directed at the Madrid player by elements of the home fans.
During a stoppage in play towards the end of the game, Vinícius informed the match officials that had received racist abuse from fans behind one of the goals, who the Brazilian identified and verbally confronted before several Real Madrid teammates and Valencia defender José Luis Gayà intervened in an attempt to calm him down. Vinícius was later sent off in injury time after an altercation with opposing player Hugo Duro.
Following the red card awarded by referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea, the striker took to social media to display his dismay and frustration with the situation. “The prize that the racists have won was my sending-off. It’s not football, it’s LaLiga,” Vinícius posted in a story on his official Instagram account, pointing, as Carlo Ancelotti did later, to the organisation presided over by Javier Tebas.
Media reaction
There was an outpouring of support for Vinicius from within Spain and overseas as players, teams and governing bodies galvanised in adding their voice to condemn the incidents of racism at Mestalla.
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino stated: “Full solidarity to Vinícius. There is no place for racism in football or in society and FIFA stands by all players who have found themselves in such a situation. Events during the match between Valencia and Real Madrid show that this needs to be the case”.
Spanish FA and VCF act
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) later ordered Valencia CF to close to Mario Kempes Stand at Mestalla after the incident and Valencia subsequently banned four individuals for life for their part in the incident, although the club have reiterated time and time again that the action of a minority is not representative of the general Valencia CF fanbase as a whole.
The initial punishment was a five-game partial stadium closure and a fine of €45,000 but after the club appealed this decision was amended with the partial closure of Mestalla cut to three matches and the fine reduced to €27,000.
Less than a month after the racist insults suffered by Real Madrid striker Vinicius Jr. at Mestalla, both the Spanish and Brazilian FA’s confirmed that they would stage a friendly game as part of the footballs’ ongoing battle to eradicate racist and discriminatory chanting which taints the game. This game will now be staged at the Santiago Bernabeu on 26 March.