Racism: Vinicius Junior empties his bag and bursts into tears

This goes beyond the framework of La Liga. While racist acts against Vinicius Junior have polluted the course of this season in the league, Brazilian coach Dorival Junior stepped up to the plate last Thursday at a press conference to come and support his player. “We will need to analyze all the information at that time, but we must be prepared to take drastic action if it happens again. Vinícius is still a boy. He is not yet a completely complete man and he cannot be treated like this by this minority. This alienates fans who can no longer stand to see this kind of abuse from a minority of people. This is no longer acceptable in society. People must be respected in all ways”explained the Auriverdes coach about the situation suffered by his foal.

Back in Spain to face La Roja tomorrow evening with Brazil at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, the Real Madrid winger was present at a press conference. The 23-year-old Brazilian winger was expected to address the issue of racism to which he has been subject since the start of the season (and even during previous exercises, editor's note). A watchword in his words, the sadness which overwhelms him at having to endure such a situation: “It’s something quite sad, it’s something that happens here every game, every day. Each of my complaints makes me very sad. But like all 'blacks' in the world… It's something sad. It's something that's happening… Not only in Spain, but also in the world… It also happened to my father, they chose a white man rather than a black one. It's something I notice and I fight because they chose me. I am fighting so that in the near future this no longer happens to anyone.”

Vinicius Junior burst into tears

If he supported the players who regularly gave him their support when he suffered this type of situation, Vinicius Junior returned to this rather quiet behavior which sometimes raised questions in Spain. Vinicius Junior understands the grievances leveled against him, but that does not excuse the exaggerated comments made towards him: “I understand that people talk about what they talk about on the ground. Of course, I have a lot of things to improve, I'm still 23, and it's natural progress… You leave Brazil very young without having learned so many things… I've been watching this for a long time, and I feel more and more sad, I want to play less and less. No one supports me.” Coming back more specifically on racism, Vinicius Junior wants to continue to fight so that others do not suffer what he experienced.

The Brazilian actually burst into tears by declaring this: “the lack of punishment is what frustrates me the most, that all these people leave without anything happening… In Barcelona a case was dismissed and I would like this kind of thing not to happen, for that people stop saying what they say. So that children don't say these things, because it's true that when I was a child, I didn't know what racism was. (crying) Playing football is very important, but the fight against racism is very important. Let people of color have normal lives. If that were the case, I would go to my club's matches focusing only on the game. The only thing I want is to continue playing and for everyone to have a normal life. Full of emotion, Vinicius Junior once again spoke out against racism and showed even more his determination to fight.