LaLiga president, Javier Tebas, has offered an apology for his remarks following the racial abuse directed at Vinicius Jr during a match against Valencia.
Tebas had criticized the Real Madrid forward for not attending scheduled meetings with the league to discuss his complaints. He also advised Vinicius to “inform himself” and urged him not to be manipulated.
These comments provoked a strong reaction from the player, who took to Twitter to express his disappointment, stating that the president of LaLiga should focus on criticizing racists rather than attacking him.
“Once again, instead of criticising racists, the president of LaLiga appears on social media to attack me,” Vinicius Jr wrote.
“As much as you talk and pretend not to read, the image of your championship is shaken. Omitting yourself only makes you equal to racists. I want actions and punishments.”
Tebas later issued a statement in which he retracted his comments, clarifying that he did not intend to attack Vinicius. He acknowledged the misunderstanding and apologized for expressing himself poorly at an inopportune time.
“I did not want to attack Vinicius, but if most people understood it that way, I need to apologise. It was not my intention I expressed myself badly, at a bad time.”
As a consequence of the incident, Valencia have been fined £39,000 and will have to close the stand where Vinicius was subjected to racial abuse for five games, according to a ruling by the Spanish FA.
The Mario Kempes stand, where the offensive chants originated during Valencia’s 1-0 victory, will be closed for the club’s remaining home game this season and the first four matches of the next season.
Valencia, who also received a €45,000 fine, expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision, claiming it unfairly penalizes innocent fans who were not involved in the shameful incident. The club intends to appeal the partial closure of the stadium.
Furthermore, the red card issued to Vinicius following the abuse he endured during the match has been overturned by the Spanish FA (RFEF). The RFEF’s comprehensive report confirmed that Vinicius was indeed subjected to racist abuse upon the arrival of the Real Madrid bus at the Mestalla stadium.
During the game, objects were thrown at him in the 71st minute from the Kempes Stand, followed by racist chants in the 73rd minute, prompting the referee to request an announcement over the PA system.
In relation to separate incidents of racist abuse targeting Vinicius Jr, Spanish police have arrested seven individuals. Four of them were detained on suspicion of hanging an effigy of Vinicius from a bridge in Madrid, with authorities describing three of the men as belonging to a previously flagged “high-risk” radical group of fans of a Madrid-based club.
The effigy was displayed on the day of the Copa del Rey fixture between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, accompanied by the words “Madrid hates Real.”
Additionally, three more individuals were arrested in Valencia on Tuesday in connection with the racial abuse that occurred during Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat at the Mestalla on Sunday.
Real Madrid has reported the incidents as hate crimes, while Vinicius expressed his disappointment by stating that racism has no place in LaLiga.
The Brazilian player has unfortunately faced repeated instances of racist abuse, leading LaLiga to file nine criminal complaints over the past two seasons.
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