A dummy of Real Madrid ahead Vinicius Junior was discovered hanging from a freeway bridge within the early hours of Thursday, hours earlier than the staff’s match in opposition to Atletico Madrid within the Copa del Rey.
The criminals used a black determine with Vinicius Jr.’s title on it, tied a rope round his neck and hung him from an overpass in Madrid, together with a banner with the phrases “Madrid hates Real”. .
The banner and determine have been apparently connected to the bridge whereas it was nonetheless darkish on Thursday morning.
Vinicius, who’s black, has been the goal of racist taunts greater than as soon as in Spain. The Brazilian ahead has complained on social media about being focused by racists since arriving to play in Europe.
The message on the banner is usually utilized by one in every of Atlético Madrid’s excessive fan teams, though it denied being answerable for the show.
“These are despicable and unacceptable acts that bring shame to society,” Atlético stated in a press release.
“Our condemnation of any act that attacks the dignity of individuals or institutions is unequivocal and unreserved,” the membership stated. “The rivalry between the two clubs is the greatest, but so is the respect. No one person, whatever their intentions or colours, can tarnish the coexistence between different supporters. It is the responsibility of all of us to avoid this. “
Real Madrid thanked others for the messages of assist they obtained following “the despicable and despicable act of racism, xenophobia and hatred against our player Vinicius”.
“Attacks such as those suffered by our players or attacks carried out by a player have no place in a society like ours,” Real Madrid stated.
The Spanish league stated it “strongly condemns the acts of hatred and intimidation” in opposition to Vinicius. It stated it might ask authorities to analyze and search convictions with “the most severe sentences” for these accountable.
“Intolerance and violence have no place in our sport,” the league stated in a press release.
The Spanish Football Federation condemned the “intolerable act” and despatched a message of assist to Vinicius following “direct threats by radical groups”.
“These types of expressions, fueled by hatred, only encourage violence and have no place in our sport. Football must be lived with passion, but must always be respected by players, opponents and fans,” the federation stated. Said. “This type of vandalism is unacceptable.”
Atlético already drew condemnation from its followers when a big group of them chanted “Vinicius, you’re a monkey” earlier than Madrid’s 2-1 win in final 12 months’s City derby on the Metropolitano Stadium. Spanish state prosecutors closed the investigation into that case, citing an absence of ample proof to determine doable perpetrators of the hate crime.
The Spanish league filed prison complaints this month in opposition to Valladolid followers who aimed racist insults at Vinicius, and he was additionally focused by a fan who racially abused him after a “clásico” in opposition to Barcelona in 2021. He was insulted.
The Copa del Rey derby was mired in controversy following a report that Madrid would ban Atlético followers on the Santiago Bernabeu stadium from sporting staff jerseys, one thing which Madrid later denied.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
