Madrid’s Vinicius highlights racist gesture made by ‘child’

Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward #07 Vinicius Junior looks on during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and Real Madrid CF at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on October 21, 2023. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior said he saw racist abuse by a “child” during his team’s 1-1 draw at Sevilla on Saturday in La Liga.

Sevilla expelled a supporter for “racist and xenophobic behaviour”, the club said in a statement, with Vinicius thanking them for their quick action, as well as highlighting another incident.

Spanish newspaper Marca ran photographs of a man appearing to make monkey gestures in the direction of the Brazil winger after he clashed with Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.

Vinicius shared the same picture on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and said in addition, he had seen a video of a child making a racist gesture.

“Congratulations to Sevilla for their quick positioning (on the incident) and punishment in yet another sad episode for Spanish football,” wrote Vinicius.

“Unfortunately, I had access to a video of another racist gesture in Saturday’s match, this time carried out by a child.

“I am very sorry there is no-one to educate you. I invest, and I invest a lot, in education in Brazil to help form citizens with different attitudes to these.”

A video circulating on social media appears to show a teenage girl making a monkey gesture at Vinicius.

The Brazilian winger has been the victim of racist abuse on various occasions during his time in Spain, although often no action has been taken by the law.

Vinicius testified before a Spanish court on October 5 by videoconference as part of an investigation into alleged abuse he suffered at Valencia in May.

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