Racism in Spain: “We have a problem in our country”, recognized Rubiales after the attack on Vinicius in Valencia

The president of the Real Spanish football federation (RFEF), Louis Rubialesasked to “recognize” this Monday that there is “a problem of racism in Spain”after the insults received from Vinicius JuniorReal Madrid player, Sunday in Valencia.

“We have a problem, the first thing is to recognize that we have a behavior, education, racism problem”Rubiales said so in an institutional statement on Monday at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas, the headquarters of the federation, near Madrid. His statements come after the expressions of the head of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, who condemned the events that occurred in Mestalla, giving the Brazilian footballer a pat on the wrist.

The president of the RFEF considered that “as long as there is a single fan, an individual undesirable or a group of undesirables, who insults because of sexual status, skin color or creed, we have a serious problem”.

A problem “that stains an entire team, a hobby, a club, a country and we are a welcoming country,” said Rubiales.

“Vinicius and any footballer, man or woman, who suffers an insult, in this case for racism, but also for sexual orientation or belief, has my support and that of the RFEF”said the manager who added to the wave of rejection of the attack suffered by the winger of Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

“We are here to support and help them and to ask them to help us improve,” added the president of the RFEF, who assured that the “Competition (competition) acting autonomously from the RFEF will act, and I am convinced that it should be punished» .

What happened to Vinicius

Last Sunday, in Real Madrid’s defeat at Valencia, Vinicius complained of being called a “monkey”, as evidenced by the match report, in which the referee specified that “a spectator” addressed Vinicius “howling monkey, monkey,” as the television images show.

The footballer reacted on his social networks by stating that “it was not the first time, nor the second, nor the third. Racism is normal in La Liga. The competition thinks it is normal, the same goes for the Federation and the rivals encourage it “.

The measure of Valencia

Valencia today announced it will ban fans for life who have made racist gestures against Real Madrid’s Brazilian striker Vinícius Jr. The club said police have already identified one of those present at the Mestalla stadium as responsible for racist gestures and insults to the player, and who work to confirm “other possible implication”.

“The Club strongly condemns this type of behaviour, which has no place in football and does not correspond to the values ​​of Valencia CF and its supporters,” said institution “Che”.

In this sense, the club has warned that it will apply the “maximum severity” and expel the fans involved “for life”.

Valencia recalled having already applied this penalty in 2019, when a fan made fascist gestures and salutes to the Arsenal crowd in England during a Europa League match.

Source: AFP