La Liga Launches New Investigation into Abuse Against Vinicius Junior
La Liga has opened a fresh investigation after Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior was allegedly subjected to abhorrent abuse for the second time in just five days. The 25-year-old Brazilian forward, who scored in Real Madrid's shock 2-1 defeat away to Osasuna on Saturday, faced vile chants and whistles from a section of the home crowd, overshadowing the match.
Details of the Alleged Abuse at El Sadar Stadium
During the game, footage emerged showing Osasuna fans chanting 'Vinicius, muerete', which translates to 'Vinicius, die'. Additionally, supporters directed chants of 'Vinicius, balon de playa' at the player, a reference to how he missed out on winning the Ballon d'Or in 2024, along with 'tonto' (fool). The Brazilian was also subjected to persistent whistles from the home crowd throughout the match.
This incident follows a racism row earlier in the week, where two Benfica supporters made monkey gestures towards Vinicius during a Champions League clash, leading to a 10-minute stoppage. Vinicius also alleged that Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni had racially abused him, though Prestianni's agent has since rubbished these claims.
Historical Context and Previous Cases
It is not the first time Vinicius has been targeted in a match against Osasuna, who are based in Pamplona. In 2023, a video surfaced showing an Osasuna fan at El Sadar racially abusing the forward. La Liga filed an official complaint with the Pamplona court, but the case was provisionally dismissed due to the impossibility of identifying the perpetrator.
Post-match, La Liga confirmed they are investigating the latest incident, specifically focusing on the alleged 'Vinicius, die' chants. The league's action highlights ongoing concerns about racism in Spanish football and the challenges in holding offenders accountable.
Real Madrid's Response and Support for Vinicius
Ahead of Saturday's late defeat, Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa praised Vinicius for his resilience in the face of frequent abuse. 'He's been sad, like everyone else, and very indignant,' Arbeloa explained. 'It's a racist act that we don't want to see happen again; it has no place in our sport. We have a huge opportunity to make sure this doesn't go unpunished.'
Arbeloa added, 'Vinicius is deciding matches, scoring amazing goals, carrying the team on his back, and he's not afraid. He can go through situations like the other day and still come back on the pitch. We all receive insults, unfortunately, but I've never been insulted because of my skin colour. I don't know if I'd be able to go back on the pitch like he did. We're going to be by his side, defending him.'
The defeat allowed Barcelona the chance to go top of the La Liga table when they host Levante on Sunday, but the focus remains on the abuse directed at Vinicius and the broader issue of racism in football.
