Chronicling 10 Actions Taken After Real Madrid’s Vinicius Was Racially Abused by Valencia Fans

• The takeaways from Real Madrid's La Liga game with Valencia, which degenerated into racial abuse, continue to be topical worldwide
• There has been a global outcry for Spanish football authorities to take punitive action against the perpetrators of such vile acts
• Vinicius Junior took to social media to register his displeasure with the incident, while promising to fight racism and fascism in football

Real Madrid winger, Vinicius Junior was at the centre of the team's 1-0 loss to Valencia.

During the match, the Brazilian winger became involved in a heated confrontation with Valencia supporters, who reportedly subjected him to racial abuse from the stands.

Adding to the unfortunate turn of events, the 22-year-old received a red card for slapping Hugo Duro after being aggressively handled by the Valencia player.

Sports Brief chronicles the ten actions that have taken place in the past 48 hours, on the back of the racial slurs targeted at Vinicius Junior on Sunday:

Chaotic scenes as Valencia defender prevents Vinicius attack with second ball

Football

1. Brazil president calls for punishment

The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was among eminent global leaders to lend support to Vinicius Junior, who endured racial abuse before and during a La Liga match fixture against Valencia.

While attending a G7 meeting in Japan, Lula took the opportunity to speak at a press conference, emphasizing the importance of FIFA, the Spanish League, and other football organizations taking assertive action to prevent racism from infiltrating the sport.

"It's not fair that a boy coming out of poverty, that won in life, that is becoming one of the best players in the world - he's certainly the best at Real Madrid - is subjected to abuse at every stadium he plays. I think it is important that FIFA, the Spanish league, and the leagues of other countries take the strongest actions possible," Lula stated, as quoted by MARCA.

Video: Vinicius receives straight red card after angrily slapping Valencia player

Football

2. Four fans arrested in Madrid

The Spanish police apprehended four individuals who are believed to be responsible for hanging a dummy representing Vini Junior from a bridge in Madrid back in January.

The arrests follow a global outcry on the back of the racial slurs directed at the 22-year-old Brazilian international during a recent Spanish league match against Valencia, Al Jazeera reports.

According to a statement from the police, the four fans who were detained in Madrid are 'suspected of a hate crime for hanging from a bridge a mannequin with Vinicius' shirt'.

3. Valencia fans handed lifetime bans

Valencia have confirmed that three people who racially assaulted Vinicius Junior at Sunday's game have been identified, and will receive lifelong bans from accessing their stadium.

While the lifetime bans show a forceful response, some would contend that more drastic steps are required to eradicate racism in football.

Real Madrid's Vinicius receives strong support from Mbappe amidst latest racism accusations

Football

“From the moment that the unfortunate events occurred, the club have analysed all the available footage, working alongside the authorities as rapidly as possible to clarify what happened in order to be able to act quickly and forcefully,” a statement from Valencia read.

4. Valencia suffer partial stadium ban

Perhaps the most pertinent sanction against Valencia was the partial closure of the Mario Kempes south stand at the Mestalla Stadium for the next five matches. This sanction will extend into the following season, making it a significant and visually impactful consequence.

The club was also fined €45,000 ($49,536) as a result of the behaviour of their fans, Forbes reports.

Valencia, however, claim that the punishments are "disproportionate and unfair", as they affect witnesses who did not racially disparage Vinicius, and they will file an appeal.

5. Vini's red card overturned

La Liga have rescinded the red card shown to Vinicius against Valencia last Sunday, per COPE, as corroborated by Tribuna.

Valencia player deliberately kicks ball to knock Vinicius Junior over

Football

The Real Madrid attacker received a red card for hitting Hugo Duro after the Valencia player shoved him during their La Liga match on May 21.

The decision to overturn Vini's red card means the Brazilian will be available for Real Madrid's upcoming league match against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, May 24.

6. RFEF launches racism awareness campaign

In response to the recent racial attack targeting Vinicius, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has launched an awareness campaign focused on combating intolerance.

This initiative comes as a direct response to the urgent call for punitive action to be taken against such incidents.

Acknowledging the presence of a racism issue within Spain, the president of the federation, Luis Rubiales, openly admitted to the problem and pledged to take appropriate measures. With the slogan "Racists, out of football", the campaign aims to emphasize the importance of eradicating racism from football.

7. Madrid lodges hate crime complaint

Brazil president Lula da Silva voices solidarity with Vinicius in condemning racial abuse in La Liga

Football

In response to racial taunts directed at Vinicius Jr. on Sunday, Spanish giants Real Madrid have filed a hate crime complaint with Spanish prosecutors, the club announced on Monday.

"Real Madrid C.F. shows its strongest rejection and condemns the events that occurred yesterday [Sunday] against our player Vinicius Jr," read the statement.

The attacks "constitute a hate crime" according to Madrid, for which they have lodged a complaint with the State Attorney General's Office.

8. Lights out on Christ statue

The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro turned off its lights for one hour in support of Brazilian footballer Vinicius Junior, who was subjected to racial taunts.

The lights were turned off at 18:00 local time for an hour.

According to Evening Standard, the Brazil FA, the Observatory of Racial Discrimination in Football, and the Archdiocesan Sanctuary, which manages the monument, carried out the act.

9. Brazilians protest to support Vini

We walk together: Real Madrid superstar vows to stand by Vinicius, in response to racist chants

Football

Approximately 100 Brazilian protesters gathered outside the Spanish consulate in Sao Paulo on May 23 to condemn the racist insults directed at Vinicius.

For about an hour, the demonstrators passionately chanted slogans such as 'La Liga is racist' and 'End racism in Spain and Brazil'.

They displayed their solidarity with Vini Jr. by carrying flares, banners, and stickers bearing the message,

"Vini Jr., I am with you."

10. Spanish FA sack VAR referees

In response to the recent crisis surrounding the incidents involving Vinicius at Mestalla, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Technical Committee of Technical Referees have taken their first significant action.

The RFEF fired six La Liga officials, including Iglesias Villanueva, who was responsible as the VAR during Real Madrid's defeat to Valencia, according to MARCA.

"They cannot find the reason why the sequence sent only referred to the Brazilian's blow to Hugo Duro's face and not to the rest of the play," it stated.