Vinicius Jr has been a frequent target of several racial abuse from opposing football fans in Spain.
Contrary to the efforts to combat racism in the football realm and promote equality, the opposite has consistently transpired.
What happened to Vinicius Jr?
Recently, the Brazilian faced a swiftly deleted corrosive insult from Barcelona director Miguel Camps.
This incident occurred just days after two Sevilla supporters, one of whom was a child, were caught on camera making monkey gestures towards Vinicius during Real Madrid’s match against Sevilla in La Liga.
Meanwhile, these incidents are just a few of the many racist abuses that the Brazilian player has endured over the past few years.
In the previous season, he faced monkey chants from Valencia fans, and in May, four individuals were arrested for hanging an effigy of Vinicius from a bridge.
The issue of racism in La Liga became increasingly prominent last season, particularly after an incident during Real Madrid’s game against Valencia.
Valencia players made an effort to hold Vinicius back and calm him down when the Brazilian pointed at an opposing fan for racially abusing him.
In the final moments of the game, there was a scuffle where it appeared that Vinicius Jr was being grabbed around the neck but surprisingly, he was the one who received a red card.
Fortunately, his controversial red card was later revoked.
Just recently, ahead of the highly anticipated El Clasico this weekend, October 28, a tweet from a board member, Mikel Camps, surfaced, mocking Vinicius Jr.
This tweet caused tensions as it was widely shared and criticized before ultimately being deleted by Mikel Camps, the person responsible for the tweet.
Camp’s comments on Vinicius after Madrid’s victory over Braga in the Champions League implied that he deserved criticism for his clown-like behavior and overly theatrical stepovers on the field, rather than attributing it to racism.
Camp tweeted: “It’s not racism, he deserves a slap for being a clown and a joker, what do those unnecessary and pointless stepovers in the middle of the pitch mean?”
Barcelona apologize to Vini Jr.
Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Xavi has urged for peace and calm following an apology issued by the club due to Camp’s controversial tweet about Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr.
Xavi emphasized that he will not feel any animosity between the supporters and players of both teams after Barcelona’s victory against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, October 25.
Xavi said: “If he deleted it, there is no need to say anything,” he told reporters.
“He has deleted it. I don’t like anything that generates tension.
“I don’t like that the referees can be influenced [by it]. I already said that I want the Clasico to have respect and mutual admiration. I won’t be the one who generates any tension.”
Following the public attention received by Camps’ deleted post, Barcelona Vice President Rafa Yuste also expressed his apologies to Vinicius on behalf of the club.
He told Movistar: “If Vinícius is listening to me, I want to say that this will not be repeated. Even if it was a mistake, it should not have been posted. It was inappropriate.”
What’s next for Vinicius?
Vinicius Jr. will take center stage in the highly anticipated El Clasico clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona on Saturday afternoon, October 28.
This much-awaited match comes amidst the ugly fallout between the two clubs, setting the tense backdrop for an epic showdown.
As Real Madrid travel to Barcelona for the first Clasico of the season in La Liga, all eyes will be on Vinicius as he aims to make a significant impact on the pitch.
Who is Brazilian forward Vini Jr?
Vinícius Júnior, also known as Vini Jr., was born on July 12, 2000.
He is a highly skilled Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a winger for Real Madrid in La Liga and represents the Brazil national team.
Widely recognized as one of the top players globally, Vinícius Júnior is admired for his incredible speed, exceptional dribbling techniques, and ability to create scoring opportunities for his team.
His age and height
The Brazilian star is currently 23-year-old and he is 1.7 m tall.
His club career
Vinícius, who was born in São Gonçalo, started his professional career at Flamengo.
At the young age of 16, he made his senior debut in 2017.
Shortly after, Vinícius caught the attention of La Liga club Real Madrid, and they secured his services in a notable £38 million transfer, setting a national record for an U-18 player.
However, the transfer only became officially effective once he turned 18. Vinícius made his debut for Real Madrid in the 2018-19 season.
Throughout his time with the club, he became an important member of the squad and played a significant role in their triumph in the 2021-22 La Liga competition.
Additionally, Vinícius sealed the victory for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final of 2022 with a crucial goal.
His international career
During his early years representing Brazil, he played a crucial role in securing victory at both the 2015 South American U-15 Championship and the 2017 South American U-17 Championship.
Remarkably, he emerged as the highest goalscorer in the latter tournament.
In 2021, he made his debut for the national senior team and made significant contributions, leading his country to a second-place finish at the 2021 Copa América.
Furthermore, he proudly represented Brazil at the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar.
