Racism in La Liga: Another match, another racist incident for Vinicius Jr.
Racism remains an ugly stain on the world of football, and even in esteemed competitions like La Liga, it continues to rear its head. Unfortunately, Vinicius Jr., the talented young player for Real Madrid, has become a regular target of racial abuse within the league. However, despite this distressing reality, the Spanish league has proven woefully unprepared in effectively tackling racism in football.
Racial Abuse Targeting Vinicius Jr.
Vinicius joined Real Madrid in 2018. The Brazilian forward, of African descent, has experienced an alarming amount of racial abuse from opposing fans. The player has had monkey chants, racial slurs, and derogatory gestures frequently directed towards him, tarnishing the sport’s integrity, and highlighting the persistence of racism in football. These incidents not only demoralise Vinicius Jr. but also negatively impact his performance and overall mental well-being. In the latest incident, Vini Jr. was on the receiving end of racist abuse by Valencia fans.
A stadium reverberating with the echoes of racist slurs
On Sunday evening, Real Madrid lost 1-0 to Valencia, in a packed Mestalla stadium. It was a crucial win for Los Che who are in the quest to secure La Liga safety. However, an off-pitch incident overshadowed the triumph. The home fans launched relentless racist chants at the young player.
The response from La Liga and its officials in combating racism in football has been lacklustre. For the officials to come forward to blame the victim is nothing short of concerning.
In a post-match interview, Valencia coach Ruben Baraja said that if a ‘situation’ had happened, they would investigate. Branding racism as a ‘situation’ is soft. A soft approach to tackling the real problem.
“Respect should be mutual,” the Valencia boss added. A seemingly dismissive statement to the racist chants directed at Vinicius Jr. throughout the game.
This dismissive response not only trivialises the severity of the issue but also perpetuates a culture of silence and acceptance surrounding racial abuse.
Javier Tebas Medrano, La Liga president, called out Vinicius on Twitter blaming him for not attending discussions on the racism he faced. This further demonstrates a failure to address the issue effectively.
Victim-blaming and misdirection
Ya que los que deberían no te explican qué es y qué puede hacer @LaLiga en los casos de racismo, hemos intentado explicártelo nosotros, pero no te has presentado a ninguna de las dos fechas acordadas que tú mismo solicitaste. Antes de criticar e injuriar a @LaLiga, es necesario… https://t.co/pLCIx1b6hS pic.twitter.com/eHvdd3vJcb
— Javier Tebas Medrano (@Tebasjavier) May 21, 2023
Unsurprisingly, the focus has shifted onto Vinicius Jr., not for the racism he experienced, but for the altercation that ensued. The forward received a red card late into the game. Instead of addressing the root cause of the altercation.
Criticism from La Liga President Javier Tebas Medrano, without acknowledging the racial abuse endured by Vinicius Jr., only serves to deflect attention from the league’s failure to protect players from racism.
Punishing the victim instead of addressing the underlying racism perpetuates the cycle of discrimination. Such responses shift the blame onto the victim, rather than holding the league accountable for its inability to provide a safe environment for all players.
Take big bold action to move things
While it is encouraging to see some La Liga players offering support to Vinicius Jr. on social media, it is essential for the league and its players to go beyond hashtags and virtual solidarity.
Concrete actions would help achieve change. Real change. Moreover, merely taking a knee before matches has lost its meaning if the league fails to address racism effectively.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsiuFftozIL/?hl=en
It is time for La Liga and its players to take tangible steps to combat racism. There is need to implement strict punishments for racial abuse.
Education and awareness campaigns have proved futile, therefore more severe measures need to be taken.
“If we want change, we have to look beyond asking leagues and authorities to stop racists, ” Leon Mann tweeted, showing solidarity with Vinicius.
Addressing racism in football requires a collective effort from all stakeholders
The Black Collective of Media in Sport (BCOMS) co-founder believes that attention ought to be shifted to the partners who funded those who refuse to change.
“Until the money or reputation of a body refusing to take racism seriously is disrupted, they will never care enough to bring about change.
“Commercial partners, broadcasters.. they will be listened to.
“No more advertisements.
Less talk more action
The racism faced by Vinicius Jr. in La Liga and the inadequate response from the league and Valencia are sobering reminders of the persistent problem of racism in football.
It is high time for La Liga to take decisive action and implement comprehensive measures to combat racial abuse.
When the Spanish league makes it a priority, they can create a safe and inclusive environment by holding officials, teams, and fans accountable.
Furthermore, implementing severe punishments such as the loss of sponsorship will go a long way in combating racism in La Liga and all other leagues alike. The federations of the clubs should protect their players.
We should celebrate football as the beautiful game it truly is, free from the ugliness of racism.
