Vinícius Júnior again targeted by racist insults

MADRID (AP):

The hate attacks against Vinicius Junior continued in Spain over the weekend, with the Brazilian forward again being targeted by racist insults in a league match.

The Spanish league said yesterday it will investigate the latest attacks after television images showed someone calling him a monkey during Real Madrid's 1-0 loss at Mallorca on Sunday.

Vinicius was also insulted after the match, when he stopped to pose for photos and sign autographs for fans.

Vinicius, who is Black, has been subjected to insults since he came to play in Spain five years ago, and last month the attacks reached a new level when his effigy was hanged off a bridge in Madrid ahead of the derby against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey.

He had also been targeted by fans in other stadiums before, including at Barcelona's Camp Nou. The hate attacks also occurred in games at Valladolid and Athletic Bilbao.

The league has been reporting the insults to the Spanish football federation and local authorities, and said it would do the same this time after "intolerable racist insults against Vinicius were again observed".

The league said it was "working with RCD Mallorca to identify those responsible, in order to take all necessary legal measures". To speed up the process, the league said it created an email ( StopRacismo@laliga.es) so fans who may have images or knowledge of those responsible can make contact and help it file the appropriate complaints.

The authorities were yet to find those responsible for hanging Vinicius' effigy before the game against Atletico; and so far, teams have not been punished for the racist insults against the Brazilian inside their stadiums.

An anti-violence committee said it was studying punishment for the Valladolid fans who insulted Vinicius in a match in December, which could include fines of EU4,000 ($4,300) to each individual identified, as well as banning them from sports venues for one year.

Last year, a large group of Atletico fans chanted "Vinicius, you are a monkey" outside Metropolitano Stadium, but Spanish state prosecutors closed a probe into the case, citing a lack of evidence, and downplayed its seriousness because the chants allegedly came within the rivalry setting of a soccer match.

The first trial against a fan who racially insulted a player in Spain is expected to begin this year following remarks by an Espanyol supporter against Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams a few years ago.

Vinicius has been outspoken about the attacks against him but has yet to comment on the events from Sunday.

Real Madrid has also complained about how Vinicius, a speedy attacker known for his nifty dribbles, has been targeted by opposing players on the field. Valencia defender Gabriel Paulista was sent off in a game last week after a vicious foul on the Brazilian. Vinicius was also roughed up several times against Mallorca.

The 22-year-old Vinicius was also recently engulfed in controversy for his dancing in goal celebrations.

"There is an environment being created surrounding Vinicius that doesn't really help anyone, neither Vinicius nor the fans, who end up provoking him without really knowing why," Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez said after Sunday's match. "It's time to put these controversies and nonsense to the side."