Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in "Israel"
Joint statement: The United States will cut down tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China will cut down tariffs on American goods from 125% to 10% for the same period
US-China trade talks joint statement: Agreement to temporarily reduce tariffs for 90 days
Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obaida: Al-Qassam has decided to release the Zionist soldier holding American citizenship, Edan Alexander, today
Israeli media: The army was informed of a ceasefire in Gaza to release captive Idan Alexander, starting 12 pm
Qatari Foreign Ministry: Qatar and Egypt welcome Hamas' announcement of its agreement to release American Aidan Alexander.
Hamas says to release US captive Edan Alexander.
Al Mayadeen's sources: Trump will announce that Hamas will release US captive Edan Alexander from Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli aircraft bombed the coastal province of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, west of Yemen.
The Israeli occupation military issues a bombing threat against the Yemeni ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif.

Brazilians protest racist abuse of Vinicius Jr.

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 May 2023 17:24
3 Min Read

100 Brazilians rally outside the Spanish embassy in Sao Paulo to stand in solidarity with Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior after being subjected to racial abuse during his team's match against Valencia.

  • x
  • A message that reads in Portuguese;
    A message that reads in Portuguese; "La Liga racist" is projected onto the Spanish Consulate, as people gather outside to protest against racism suffered by Brazilian soccer star Vinicius Junior, Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (AP)

On Tuesday, some 100 Brazilians rallied outside the Spanish embassy in Sao Paulo to protest the racial abuse of Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior in Spain's top-tier soccer league.

For approximately an hour, demonstrators chanted "La Liga is racist" and "End racism in Spain and Brazil." They arrived with flares, banners, and stickers reading "Vini Jr, I am with you." They projected the words: "It's not soccer, it's racism" onto the consulate's walls.

Vinicius has been racially abused at several stadiums this season in Spain. On one occasion, an effigy of him was hung from a bridge by Atletico Madrid fans.

During the Valencia match, Vinicius stood in front of home fans behind one goal and pointed to an apparent culprit. The match was delayed for several minutes in the second half.

Former soccer star Claudia Rodrigues, 51, one of the protest's organizers, said the goal was not to gather hundreds of people to the consulate, which is located in one of Sao Paulo's wealthiest neighborhoods but to act swiftly and demonstrate to the Spanish government that it needed to act.

“Vini behaved as a warrior, a Brazilian man that honors our ancestors,” Rodrigues said. “Vini is facing racism in Europe. Regardless of financiers, sponsors, it is very important for our society and very important for young Black people, who look at them as heroes.”

Representatives from numerous Brazilian Black movements read out a declaration expressing their solidarity with the 22-year-old soccer player. Drivers honked in support and screamed anti-Spanish league slogans from their vehicles.

The statement said Vinicius encountered aggression “of the Spanish far-right that oppresses Blacks” and “Vini Jr. makes us proud.”

Related News

Massive protests overrun Valencia post-flood, demand Mazon resignation

Spain King, Queen, PM pelted with mud in flood-hit Valencia

“We will be standing next to him, with clenched fists and our heads high up.”

Officials in Spain also took action on Tuesday, fining Valencia $48,500 and shutting down a portion of the team's stadium for the next five games.

Solidarity

World football and beyond have rallied around Vinicius and demanded action.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned the abuse, telling a news conference at the G7 summit in Hiroshima on Tuesday, "He was attacked. He was called a 'monkey'."

Lula called for the Spanish league to take "serious measures".

On his part, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Spanish football needed to be prepared to halt matches.

"The Spanish league has a problem, and Vinicius is not the problem. Vinicius is the victim," Ancelotti said on Sunday.

"What has happened today has happened before, but not like that, it's unacceptable," the Italian coach told reporters.

FIFA reiterated that stopping matches is permitted as well as players walking off the pitch in their three-step approach when racist abuse takes place. 

"Full solidarity with Vinicius," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

  • Valencia
  • Spain
  • Racism
  • Real Madrid
  • Vinicius Jr

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
A Yemeni gunman walks past paintings depicting rockets and scenes in solidarity with Gaza, displayed on a roadside fence in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, May 5, 2025 (AP)

Oman brokers US-Yemen ceasefire, Israelis in dark regarding deal

  • Politics
  • 6 May 2025
Saree

Yemeni Armed Forces target key Israeli sites, USS Truman

  • MENA
  • 7 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
This Sept. 29, 2018 file photo shows idle cargo and oil tanker ships at the port of Hodeida, Yemen. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' issues threats to three Yemeni ports

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a briefing in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Politics

Zelensky agrees to meet Putin in Istanbul, demands ceasefire first

A boy holds an empty pot over his head as he waits for donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, Friday, May 9, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US-Gaza ceasefire negotiations intensify amid Trump-Netanyahu split

AP
Politics

Hamas to free Edan Alexander as part of Gaza deal: Al-Hayya

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS