Whether or not what was said was proven, this was not the first time – quite the opposite – that Vinícius was involved in a similar situation. One of the main faces of the anti-racist fight in European footballthe 25-year-old Brazilian has been experiencing episodes of persecution on and off the pitch since arriving in Spain.
While for some the striker shows courage by denouncing hatred, for others – like part of the fans present in Luz, who shared whistles for the Brazilian and applause for Prestianni – Vini has been seen as a provocateur since his early days in Spanish football.
Five episodes that marked Vini Jr’s trajectory in Spain
The first widely reported episode dates back to October 2021, at Camp Nou, against Barcelona. The complaint reached the authorities, but ended up being archived due to the lack of identification of the perpetrators, in a decision that would be highlighted by Vinícius as an example of the impunity that, according to the player, fuels the repetition of attacks.
In September 2022, before Atlético-Real Madrid, videos posted on social media showed racist chants around the stadium. In the same week, public statements suggesting that the Brazilian should “stop dancing” expanded the discussion and reinforced the view that the athlete was often held responsible for the reactions he suffered. At the time, the case gave rise to the campaign “Dance, Vini”encouraging Brazilians to dance – Mbappé repeated the motto yesterday (see below).
In December 2022, against Valladolid, Vinícius was once again the target of racist insults after celebrating a Real Madrid goal. The case was investigated by Spanish authorities, resulting in fines and the removal of identified fans. Still, the player publicly criticized the lack of more severe punishments.
Months later, in January 2023, the eve of a classic with Atlético de Madrid was marked by an image that went around the world: a doll wearing Vinícius Júnior’s shirt hanging on a bridge in the Spanish capital, simulating his hanging. The act generated widespread condemnation, including from clubs, federations and players.
The episode that generated the most impact to date occurred in May 2023, at Mestalla, in the game between Valencia and Real Madrid. Called “monkey” by fans of the home team, Vinícius confronted fans of the ‘che’ club, saw the match interrupted by the referee and left the pitch visibly shaken.
The case became a turning point in the debate about racism in Spanish footballprovoking an immediate reaction from Real Madrid, demonstrations by the Brazilian government and a public exchange of accusations between the player and the president of La Liga, Javier Tebas.
Since then, the striker has taken on an even more active role in publicly reporting cases and demanding structural measures from the responsible entities.
The repercussions of the case with Prestianni
The episode in Luz rekindled this history. After the final whistle, the most scathing reaction came from his attacking partner, Kylian Mbappé. The French forward claimed to have heard the insult directed at Vinícius “five times” and defended exemplary punishments, saying that the Benfica player “he doesn’t deserve to play in the Champions League anymore” and that tolerating this type of behavior empties “all the values of football”.
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