Rodrigo scored the game-winning goal with Vinicius Junior observing from the stands and raising his fist in support of his Real Madrid and Brazil teammate. It was one of the numerous tributes by Real Madrid players to Vinicius in the first game since the latest case of racial abuse against the player. Who contemplated leaving the field after being insulted by Valencia fans on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Rodrygo’s late goal handed Madrid a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league. “All the support for Vini was beautiful,” he said. “What happened to him can occur to many other competitors. We are aware that this has happened numerous times in football. However, we are pleased to see that the world is coming together to combat this threat.”
The show of support occurred one day after Spanish police detained seven individuals on suspicion of committing hate crimes. And Valencia was fined and ordered to partially close its stadium for five games.
Due to a minor injury, Vinicius was not on the pitch, but all of his Real Madrid players entered the pitch donning his No. 20 jersey.
Vinicius tweeted after the game, “Love you,” with a photo of his teammates behind him at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Vinicius came out in street clothes to salute the supporters as Real Madrid players lined up with their backs to the stands while displaying his jersey. Vinicius accompanied club president Florentino Pérez to the game.
“We are all Vinicius.” Enough already!”
In the twentieth minute, his name was chanted and applauded by the crowd. The Brazilian rose to his feet and returned the salutation from the VIP section.
Outside the stadium, many supporters arrived with signs condemning prejudice and praising Black player Vinicius. Behind one of the goals was a massive banner with the wording “We are all Vinicius.” Enough already!”
As part of a new anti-racism campaign by the Spanish league. The Spanish football federation, and the government, players from both teams held a banner reading “racists out of football” prior to the match. Both teams’ players donned armbands with anti-racist messages. During national and international broadcasts of the event, anti-racism slogans were displayed.
Vinicius, who was subjected to yet another instance of racial abuse on Sunday, did not participate due to what the club described as a minor knee injury.
Sunday’s match against Valencia saw Vinicius receive a red card for an altercation, but the card was subsequently rescinded.
Carlo Ancelotti stated that he contemplated giving Vincius a rest despite his suspension in light of the recent stressful days.
Wednesday’s contests for Madrid’s women’s football and men’s basketball teams both featured players wearing jerseys bearing the number 20.
Valencia fined
Valencia announced earlier on Wednesday that it would appeal the partial closure of its stadium. In response to the racial slurs directed at Vinicius during a league match, claiming that the sanction is “unfair and disproportionate.”
The competition committee of Spanish soccer fined Valencia 45,000 euros ($48,500) and closed one section of Mestalla Stadium for five games on Tuesday night. This is the harshest punishment ever given to a club in Spain for bigotry.
Since his arrival to play in Spain five years ago, Vinicius has been subjected to numerous ethnic insults. After the most recent racist incident against him. The 22-year-old Brazilian forward harshly criticised Spain’s lack of anti-racism measures.
“Valencia wishes to express its complete disagreement and outrage over the competition committee’s unfair and disproportionate punishment,” the club said in a statement. “Valencia wishes to denounce publicly that the evidence presented by the committee contradicts what the police and La Liga have stated.” This punishment is based on evidence that the club was unable to view.”
Additionally, Valencia complained that it was not given the opportunity to defend itself prior to the ruling. The club stated that it has cooperated with the police from the beginning. Valencia stated shortly after the game that it would work with authorities to identify those culpable. And a day later, it permanently banned one individual.
Sunday, with the assistance of the club, police detained three individuals on suspicion of committing a hate crime for their alleged abuse of the Brazilian; they were all banned for life from the stadium. The club stated that this was the utmost sanction it could administer.
