Spanish league 'belongs to racists' as Vinicius incident attracts international criticism

Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior was subjected to racist abuse yet again on Sunday with the Brazilian saying the Spanish league "now belongs to racists."

The latest abuse came in Real Madrid's 1-0 loss at Valencia, a match that had to be temporarily stopped after the Brazilian forward said he was insulted by a fan behind one of the goals at Mestalla Stadium.

“It wasn't the first time, or the second or the third. Racism is normal in La Liga. The competition thinks it's normal, as does the federation, and the opponents encourage it," Vinícius said on Instagram and Twitter. 

"The league that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano (Ronaldo) and (Lionel) Messi now belongs to racists ... But I'm strong and I will fight until the end against the racists. Even if far from here.”

The 22-year-old Vinícius, who is Black, has been subjected to racist abuse since moving to Spain five years ago.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti considered replacing the star forward after Vinícius said fans at Mestalla chanted “monkey” toward him. He said Vinícius initially didn't want to continue playing.

“What happened today shouldn’t happen," Ancelotti said. “When a stadium yells ‘monkey’ to a player, and the coach considers taking him out of the field because of that, it means that there is something bad in this league."

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday condemned insults hurled at Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior during a Spanish league game in Valencia, and demanded action against "fascism and racism" in stadiums.

"He was attacked. He was called a monkey," Lula said indignantly during a press conference in Hiroshima (Japan), after a G7 summit to which he had been invited.

"It is not possible, in the middle of the 21st