On May 21, during a match between Real Madrid and Valencia, Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. was subjected to racial abuse by Valencia fans. In the 90th minute, Vinicius got into a heated argument with the entire stadium in response to the abuse. This escalated further when he engaged in a fight with Valencia players, particularly Hugo Duro, who put him in a chokehold. Vinicius attempted to free himself, resulting in a confrontation between both teams. Ultimately, Vinicius was the only player to be sent off the field, while no other players received cards.
After the game, Vinicius took to social media to express his anger towards the referees' performance and the behavior of the Valencia supporters. He criticized La Liga, the football competition, and the federation for tolerating racism, suggesting that racism is normal in Spanish football. Vinicius apologized to Spaniards who do not agree with this perception but claimed that Spain is now seen as a country of racists in Brazil. Despite acknowledging that he has no defense for the incidents that occur each week, Vinicius expressed his determination to fight against racism, even from a distance.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti addressed the issue in a post-match interview, stating that he spoke with Vinicius during the game due to the hostile atmosphere. Ancelotti disagreed with the notion that he had to substitute Vinicius because of the racist environment and emphasized that Vinicius was the victim. He condemned the racist chants directed at the player and expressed sadness over having to replace him due to such insults.
Following the incident, numerous players and fans stood in support of Vinicius Jr. The solidarity even extended to Brazil, where the lights of the Christ the Redeemer statue were turned off as a symbolic gesture. Vinicius acknowledged the support and affection he received, stating that he aims to inspire and shed light on the ongoing struggle against racism. He expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from both Brazil and around the world, recognizing the majority of people as "the good ones" and promising not to give up. Vinicius declared his readiness to endure further hardships to ensure that future generations do not experience similar situations.
