Real Madrid file legal complaint over alleged racist abuse of Vincius Jr

Real Madrid have filed a complaint with the Spanish legal authorities after Vinicius Junior was subjected to “racist and hateful insults” this week.

A video on social media appears to show Atletico Madrid fans chanting a racist slur before their Champions League game with Inter Milan.

Real Madrid allege there were similar chants from Barcelona fans before their encounter against Napoli on Tuesday.

Spain’s LaLiga said on Thursday that it will also report the incident.

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates an own goal scored by Carlos Dominguez of Celta de Vigo during the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match played between Real Madrid and RC Celta de Vigo at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on March 10, 2024, in Madrid, Spain. AFP7 10/03/2024 (Europa Press via AP)
Image:
Vinicius called on UEFA to take action against the Atletico fans

A statement from Real Madrid said: “Real Madrid has filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office against hate crimes and discrimination, for the racist and hateful insults directed towards our player Vinicius Jr in the vicinity of the Olympic Stadium of Montjuic and the Metropolitan Stadium of Madrid.

“Real Madrid condemns these violent attacks of racism, discrimination and hatred that have been taking place, unfortunately repeatedly, against our player Vinicius Jr.

“Our club will continue to work in defence of the values of football and sport, and will remain firm in its fight for zero tolerance in the face of such disgusting episodes as those that continue to occur in recent times.”

Carlo Ancelotti called for a “zero tolerance” policy to racism in Spanish football as he once again came to the defence of Vinicius.

“The problem is there, I believe it is. I am not going to change my opinion,” Ancelotti said on Friday.

“I think Valencia responded very well after their episode (with racism). It is others who have to act now. When we talk about zero tolerance, it is for us and for everyone.

“I think it is necessary to act and eradicate these problems. They are very ugly things that affect everyone in our society. Criminals (who perpetuate racism) should not be out on the street, they should be somewhere else.”

Vinicius Jr had responded to the video on X, saying: “I hope you have already thought about their punishment UEFA.

“It’s a sad reality that [it] even happens in games where I’m not present!”

The 23-year-old Brazilian has suffered racial abuse on several occasions across Spain in recent years.

After Real’s win away over local rivals Atletico in September 2022, Atletico condemned “unacceptable” chants by a “minority” of fans towards Vinicius Jr outside their stadium before the game.

Last June, four men were fined €60,001 and given a two-year stadium ban for hanging an effigy of Vinicius Jr near Real’s training ground in January 2023.

On the same day, three other people were fined €5,000 and banned for a year for making racist gestures during Real’s game at Valencia in May.

This season there were reports of more racist abuse towards Vinicius Jr as Real played at Sevilla in October, at Barcelona the following week and at Valencia earlier this month.

Man City to face Real in CL quarter-finals while Arsenal draw Bayern

Manchester City will face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final while Arsenal were drawn against Bayern Munich.

Arsenal will host Bayern in the first leg as former Tottenham star Harry Kane returns to north London.

Holders City must overcome Real once again to defend their crown after trouncing the 14-time winners last season in the semi-final en route to claiming the treble.

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Familiar foe! Watch all of Harry Kane’s Bundesliga goals this season ahead of his return to north London to face Arsenal

Familiar foe Kane a big threat to Arsenal

Sky Sports’ Nick Wright:

“Bayern Munich may not be as strong as in previous years but another meeting with Harry Kane is probably not something Arsenal will relish.

“The 30-year-old has an outstanding record against the Gunners, scoring 14 goals in 17 north London derbies during his time at Tottenham.

“He will face them again in the midst of one of the best goalscoring seasons of his career, having netted 36 times in only 34 appearances in all competitions so far.”

Barcelona will take on Paris Saint-Germain while Borussia Dortmund play against Atletico Madrid in the other quarter-final ties.

Arsenal and Man City will face each other in the semi-finals if they progress.

When are the Champions League quarter-final and semi-final ties?

The first legs of the quarter-final ties will be played on April 9 and 10, with the return fixtures on April 16 and 17.

Arsenal and Manchester City are both playing April 9 and on April 17.

Arsenal host Bayern on April 9, with City travelling to Madrid that Tuesday. Arsenal are away on Wednesday April 17, the same night that City host Real Madrid at the Etihad.

The semi-finals will be on April 30 and May 1, with the second legs on May 7 and 8.

The Champions League final is on June 1 at Wembley Stadium.

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Former Tottenham striker Harry Kane is the top scorer in North London Derby history with 14 goals, here are all seven of his goals from open play in the fixture

Bayern fans banned from the Emirates

There will be no Bayern Munich fans at Arsenal for the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

Bayern were handed a ban from attending the away leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie because their supporters threw fireworks onto the pitch during their 3-1 win at Lazio earlier this month.

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Arsenal sporting director Edu says Arsenal are excited by the challenge Bayern Munich will present in their Champions League quarter-final

Champions League quarter-final draw

  • Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
  • Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund
  • Real Madrid vs Man City
  • PSG vs Barcelona

Champions League semi-final draw

  • Atletico Madrid/Borussia Dortmund vs PSG/Barcelona
  • Arsenal/Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid/Man City

Man City (a) – Premier League – Sunday March 31

Luton Town (h) – Premier League – Wednesday April 3

Brighton (a) – Premier League – Saturday April 6

Bayern Munich (h) – Champions League – Tuesday April 9

Aston Villa (h) – Premier League – Sunday April 14

Bayern Munich (a) – Champions League – Wednesday April 17

Wolves (a) – Premier League – Saturday April 20

* All fixture dates are subject to change

Newcastle (h) – FA Cup – Saturday March 16

Arsenal (h) – Premier League – Sunday March 31

Aston Villa (h) – Premier League – Wednesday April 3

Crystal Palace (a) – Premier League – Saturday April 6

Real Madrid (a) – Champions League – Tuesda April 9

Luton Town (h) – Premier League – Saturday April 13

Real Madrid (h) – Champions League – Wednesday April 17

Tottenham (h) – Premier League – Saturday April 20

* All fixture dates are subject to change; FA Cup semi-finals to be played on weekend of April 20-21

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LaLiga to report Atletico fans over racist chants about Vinicius

LaLiga will report the “deplorable racist chants” aimed at Vinicius Junior by
Atletico Madrid fans to Spain’s legal authorities.

The Real Madrid forward was again the target for abuse by Atletico fans prior to their Champions League last-16 match against Inter Milan on Wednesday night.

The Brazil forward has called on UEFA, which runs the Champions League, to issue sanctions.

European football’s governing body is understood to be reviewing the official match report before making any decision on disciplinary action, but LaLiga has acted already even though the match was not under its jurisdiction.

“LaLiga will report the deplorable racist chants against Vinicius Jr before Wednesday’s UCL match between Atletico de Madrid and Inter Milan to the Hate Prosecutor’s Office, regardless of the fact that the match was played in another competition and that the chants took place outside the stadium,” a league statement read.

“LaLiga is wholeheartedly committed to making football a hate-free space and will continue to work relentlessly to crack down on racism, homophobia, violence and hatred… whatever the competition.”

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates an own goal scored by Carlos Dominguez of Celta de Vigo during the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match played between Real Madrid and RC Celta de Vigo at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on March 10, 2024, in Madrid, Spain. AFP7 10/03/2024 (Europa Press via AP)
Image:
Vinicius called on UEFA to take action against the Atletico fans

Vinicius replied to a post on X, formerly Twitter, about the chanting and wrote: “I hope you have already thought about their punishment UEFA.

“It’s a sad reality that even happens in games where I’m not present!”

Videos circulating on social media appeared to show some Atletico fans engaged in chants which referred to Vinicius as a “chimpanzee”.

Atletico fans have engaged in racist chants towards Vinicius in the past, including at a Madrid derby in 2021.

Supporters of a number of other clubs in LaLiga have also directed abuse at the 23-year-old previously, including Valencia and Sevilla.

Last May, LaLiga president Javier Tebas apologised for suggesting Vinicius was being “manipulated” when the Brazilian called out racism he had suffered in Spain.

Tebas subsequently said racism could be wiped out from his competition in six months with the correct legal framework in place.

“What we want is the power to do more things. With the power we are convinced within months this would be solved,” Tebas said.

“We are going along the legal route and I think in six months’ time this will be at zero and we will be the best league in the world.

“The competencies we want are for those intolerable behaviours – racism, homophobia.”

FIFA has announced the closure of criminal proceedings against its president Gianni Infantino over meetings he had with Switzerland’s former Attorney General
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FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants to bring stricter laws into football to tackle racism

FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants football to adopt “new, stricter” measures worldwide to tackle racism when national associations gather for FIFA’s Congress in Bangkok in May.

He has previously called for teams to forfeit matches where racist behaviour by their supporters forces a match to be abandoned.