Professional soccer player, Vinícius Júnior, became emotional and shed tears as he discussed the impact of racist insults, saying, “They are making me lose my passion for the game.”
Vinícius Júnior broke down in tears on Monday while talking about the racist insults that he has been subjected to in Spain, saying that he is losing his desire to keep playing because of what he has been going through.
Vinícius openly discussed his challenges in battling against racism before the “One Skin” exhibition match between Spain and Brazil on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The match aimed to bring attention to the issue of racism, nearly a year after Vinícius experienced racial abuse during a game in Valencia in the Spanish league.
Vinícius expressed his sorrow regarding the difficult situation he has been facing here. It has been a lengthy struggle, and he finds it taxing because he feels isolated. Despite making multiple formal reports, no consequences have been enforced on those responsible.
Oscar J. Barroso / AP
The Spain-Brazil match is happening shortly after Vinícius was subjected to a fresh round of discriminatory and hateful remarks during games in Spain.
@BizoBeez weighs in on the racism that Vini Jr. has continued to endure in Spain. pic.twitter.com/0NbyWMpTzu— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 26, 2024
Vinícius expressed that he has received support from other players in the Spanish league and does not view Spain as a racist country. However, he believes that there are numerous racists in Spain who attend stadium events.
He expressed, “That must be transformed. Perhaps individuals are not fully aware of what racism truly entails. Being 23, I find myself constantly educating others about racism, and its impact on myself and my family in our own home.”
Vinícius recognized that there are moments when he must work on his behavior on the field. However, he expressed his desire for others to focus less on his mistakes and more on the verbal abuse he receives.
Vinícius, who sought assistance from FIFA, UEFA, and other organizations for his battle, shared that he has devoted a significant amount of time to learning about racism. As a result, he feels more equipped to discuss this topic.
CBS Sports reported that in January, FIFA president Gianni Infantino supported implementing automatic forfeits for teams whose fans engage in racial abuse towards opposing players.
Over time, the sport has been affected by discrimination, both during games and outside of them.
In April of last year, Dante Vanzeir, a forward for the New York Red Bulls, received notifications and comments.suspended
The player was suspended for six games by the Major League Soccer organization after using racist words during a match against the San Jose Earthquakes.
racial abuse from other players.
In the year 2021, three Black athletes were subjected to racist insults from their fellow players.racist abuse after was a disappointment.
The defeat of England by Italy was a letdown.
During the final match of the European Championship, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka contributed significantly to the team’s success throughout the tournament. However, their missed penalty shots against Italy resulted in a wave of racist harassment on the internet.
won a
Came off the field crying.
Following ongoing racially motivated chants during their win against Rad in the Serbian league,
At the 2014 World Cup
Two fans from Argentina were taken into custody for harassing a black player with the derogatory term “little monkey.”
Source: cbsnews.com