Spain’s government sports council is analysing crowd images to root out the fan or fans responsible. The body has in similar incidents in the past proposed a one-year stadium ban and fine of €4,000 for those found guilty.
On a day of recriminations and soul-searching, the head of Spain’s football federation said the country had a ‘problem’ with racism. ‘As long as there is just one fan, a single undesirable, or group of undesirables who hurl insults over someone’s sexual orientation, or skin colour, we have a serious problem,’ Luis Rubiales said.
But Real Madrid heavily criticised Rubiales, saying his refusal to ensure FIFA protocols – which suggest matches should be halted when racist abuse is heard – are upheld in Spain is exacerbating the problem.
‘His inaction has resulted in the helplessness and defencelessness of our player Vinícius,’ said the club, which hit out at the federation for failing to ‘prevent the situation’.
La Liga argues it has been ‘proactive’ in previous cases of racism against Vinicius.
Vinícius was sent off in added time at the end of the game for hitting Valencia player Hugo Duro during a brawl. Real said the match officials ‘made unfair decisions based on incomplete images’ when Vinicius was shown a red card.
After the match, Vinícius issued a strongly worded statement saying that ‘today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists … The league that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano (Ronaldo) and Messi now belongs to racists.’
Read from: https://www.spainenglish.com/2023/05/23/spain-investigates-racism-football-abuse-hurled-vinicius-jr/