Brazilian sides Flamengo and Cruzeiro sit for the first 36 seconds of the game in anti-racism protest to support Vinicius Jr. after racial abuse storm with the Real Madrid star’s former club wearing his name on their shirts
- Vinicius Jr. played for Flamengo between 2017-18 prior to his move to Madrid
- The Brazilian winger did not play in Real Madrid’s 2-1 comeback win vs. Sevilla
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Two of Brazil’s biggest clubs have staged an anti-racism protest in support of the nation’s star winger, Vinicius Jr.
The Real Madrid superstar was again subjected to racial abuse during a game at the Mestalla vs. Valencia last Sunday.
As a result, his former club Flamengo wore jerseys with ‘Vini Jr.’ emblazoned on the front and partook in a seated protest with Cruzeiro for the first 36 seconds of the game.
In the stands of the Maracana Stadium, thousands of supporters made a tifo which read ‘everyone with Vini Jr’ on Saturday.
The forward’s home country has shown other signs of solidarity with its ace this week.
Two of Brazil’s biggest clubs staged an anti-racism protest in support of the nation’s star man
Vinicius Jr.’s former club Flamengo wore jerseys with ‘Vini Jr.’ emblazoned on the front
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. endured racist chants and gestures last Sunday vs. Valencia
Rio de Janeiro’s imposing Christ the Redeemer statue turned off its lights one night in solidarity, while the city’s enormous bayside Ferris wheel this week displayed a clenched black fist and the scrolling words: ‘EVERYONE AGAINST RACISM.’
‘My total repudiation of the episode of racism suffered by our ace and the pride of all of us in Sao Goncalo,’ the city’s mayor, Nelson Ruas dos Santos, wrote on Twitter the morning after the incident.
Rio’s Mayor Eduardo Paes was less diplomatic when responding to a defense issued by the Spanish soccer league’s president Javier Tebas.
‘Go to hell, son of a…’ Paes wrote.
READ MORE: Vinicius Jnr reveals ‘inhuman’ death threats from opposing fans
Vinicius Jnr has issued a damning statement of the abuse he has received this season alongside a shocking video
Valencia’s partial stadium ban was reduced from five to three matches with the initial fine of $48,000 now lowered to $29,000.
Vinicius was left out of the squad for Real’s 2-1 comeback win vs. Sevilla. He also missed the clash with Rayo Vallecano Wednesday evening due to a slight injury following the Valencia clash.
His teammates all wore No. 20 shirts in a show of solidarity with the 22-year-old.
La Liga president Javier Tebas revealed this week he is yet to talk to the league’s foremost player in wake of the scandal.
Despite a widespread outpouring of support for the player, the LaLiga chief told Vinicius Jnr to ‘inform yourself’ on social media after a post from the player calling for action.
Tebas has since apologized for his comments, and at a press conference Thursday outlined his hopes for the player to remain in Spanish football amid rumors he could pursue a move elsewhere after several similar incidents.
Vinicius threatened to walk off the pitch during the second half of the match in question after being subjected to monkey chants.
Real labeled the incident a ‘hate crime’ and subsequently filed a complaint with the Spanish State Attorney General’s Office.
Valencia launched an appeal against the closure, describing it as ‘unfair and disproportionate’. The local press also hit out at the ‘unprecedented’ decision.
Flamengo fans were also in support of its former star — who left the club for Madrid in 2017
The lights on Rio de Janeiro’s iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer (pictured) were switched off for an hour on Monday night
A large banner declaring ‘we are all Vinicius, enough’ was shown at the Bernabeu Wednesday
The Brazilian’s teammates wore Vinicius Jr.’s No. 20 shirts during the clash vs. Rayo Vallecano
La Liga chief Javier Tebas admitted he had not spoken to Vinicius Jr. since the Valencia match
Vinicius Jr. played for the Rio de Janeiro-based club prior to his record-breaking move to Spain
Vinicius will testify via video conference before a Court of Instruction in Valencia, with three individuals accused of abusing him also set to speak in the investigation.
The supporters, all of whom are between the ages of 18 and 21, were detained by police earlier this week in connection with the incident, with a court in Valencia opening a probe into the alleged racist episode that saw the match halted.
Vinicius’ 2017 move to Madrid from Flamengo was historic. One of the most popular clubs in global soccer paid $50million for the then-18-year-old — at the time the most ever for a Brazilian teenager — even before his professional debut with Rio-based Flamengo.
It was the second-most expensive transfer fee paid to a Brazilian club, behind Neymar’s move from Santos to Barcelona in 2013.
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