“Voices Against Racism Unite Bernabeu: Solidarity Shown for Vinicius in La Liga Match”

Voices against racism will be heard at the Bernabeu during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano.

‘We are all Vinicius’.

▲ Spanish Primera Liga players are standing facing the crowd wearing uniforms with the same number 20 at the Bernabeu Stadium where the game against Rayo Vallecano was held on the 25th. Number 20 is the uniform number of Vinicius, who suffered racial discrimination during the game on the 22nd. [AP 연합뉴스]

On the 25th (local time), when the Spanish professional soccer Primera Liga (La Liga) match against Rayo Vallecano took place, Real Madrid’s home stadium, Santiago Bernabéu, had placards and banners of “solidarity” against racism.

All players named on the starting and replacement lists stood on the ground wearing uniforms with the name of Vinicius and the number ’20’ on them. The crowd cheered for the players by hanging placards that read ‘We are one with Vinicius’.

Rayo Vallecano, who stood in the ‘enemy camp’, also agreed. Players from both teams held up a placard with the phrase ‘Let’s kick racism out of football’.

With Karim Benzema’s opening goal in the first half and Rodrygo’s winning goal in the 44th minute of the second half, Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1, who scored an equalizer in the 39th minute of the second half. Rodrygo, a black player from Brazil like Vinicius, raised his right fist and bowed his head after the ‘theater winning goal’, and performed a ‘black power salute’ ceremony.

▲ Real Madrid fans are showing a large placard with their name on it to show their solidarity with Vinicius. [AP 연합뉴스]

The Bernabeu soccer field became one because of the Valencia home game on the 22nd. In the second half of the game, Valencia fans shouted ‘monkey’ at Vinicius, leading to an uncontrollable clash.

Vinicius was even sent off at the end of the match for an obscure reason. After the game, Vinicius said on social media (SNS), “This is not the first, second, or third time. In La Liga, racism has become commonplace,” he lamented.

The next day, on the 23rd, a protest was held in front of the Spanish consulate in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to protest the racial discrimination Vinicius suffered. The symbol of Rio de Janeiro, the ‘Jesus of Salvation’ on Corcovado Hill, was illuminated for an hour to symbolize ‘the black but confident Jesus’.

During his speech at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Brazilian President Lula emphasized, “It is not fair for a poor boy to overcome life and become the world’s best player to be insulted on the pitch.”

▲ Vinicius rises from the stands and raises his hand to express his gratitude to the cheers of the fans who are against race on the soccer field. [AP 연합뉴스]

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) imposed a penalty of 45,000 euros (approximately 64 million won) on the Valencia club, closing some seats for five matches. During the game, the scene in which Vinicius was strangled was omitted, and six VAR referees who induced the ejection by sending out only the scene of him beating the opponent were dismissed, and Vinicius’ disciplinary punishment for sending off was canceled.

Brazilian national teammate Rafinha took off his uniform during the 36th round of La Liga against Real Valladolid and threw off his undershirt, displaying the phrase ‘I will fight as long as skin color is considered more important than bright eyes’.

Racist acts in the European big leagues are no longer new. In particular, recently, Korean players such as Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) in the English Premier League and Lee Kang-in (Mallorca) in La Liga have become targets of hatred disguised as skin color.

Reporter Choi Byeong-gyu