25 October 2023 , 10:00
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A tweet from Barcelona board member Mikel Camps' account has claimed Vinicius Junior does not face racism and added the Real Madrid star "deserves a slap for being a clown."
The Brazil international was racially abused by a child, among other home fans, during Real Madrid's game at Sevilla on Saturday. It came in a heated La Liga clash, which finished 1-1 after Dani Carvajal's equaliser cancelled out Sevilla's opener – an own goal from David Alaba.
Vinicius played 88 minutes of the clash, with video footage circulated on social media and photos showing the Real Madrid star being subjected to sick racist abuse by several Sevilla supporters, including a child. Sevilla ejected a fan from the stadium and condemned "all racist and xenophobic behaviour".
A now-deleted tweet, which was widely shared on social media, from the account of Camps – who is described as a member of Barca's board on the Catalan club's website - said of the treatment of Vinicius: "It's not racism, he deserves a slap for being a clown. What do these unnecessary and meaningless stepovers represent in the centre of the pitch?"
A tweet from Mikel Camps' account contained the inflammatory message about Vinicius before it was later deletedThe inflammatory comments come just days before the first El Clasico of the campaign when Real Madrid host an injury-hit Barcelona. It will undoubtedly raise tensions as it denies the shameful wrongdoing, which is disgusting and indefensible.
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Vinicius thanked Sevilla on Saturday for acting swiftly but acknowledges that more needs to be done to end racism. "Congratulations to Sevilla for their quick action and for punishing yet another sad episode for Spanish football," wrote Vinicius on Instagram.
"Unfortunately, I was shown a video of another racist act at Saturday's match, this time by a child. I'm very sorry that there was no one to educate them. I invest, and I invest a lot, in education in Brazil to form citizens with attitudes different from these.
"The face of today's racist is plastered all over the websites, as it has been on several other occasions. I hope the Spanish authorities do their part and change the law once and for all. These people have to be punished criminally too."
Camps has a profile on Barcelona's website - the club are yet to comment on his postLast season, Vinicius faced disgusting racist chants from sections of Atletico Madrid fans as Real Madrid defeated their city rivals. Shortly after, videos emerged on social media of the abhorrent language used. That came after Vinicius was targeted with a racist slur on live Spanish TV by agent Pedro Bravo.
Bravo said during an El Chiringuito discussion of the Brazil international that "in Spain, you have to respect rivals and stop playing the monkey". Following a backlash alleging that this was a racist stereotype, Bravo subsequently apologised on social media by claiming that he misused a metaphor. It has opened a discussion across Spain and further afield of the language and attitude applied towards footballers with racial undertones.
In December, the Madrid prosecutor acknowledged that the racist chants of Atletico Madrid fans were "unpleasant and disrespectful" but in their judgement, reminded us "they only lasted a few seconds" and were "in the context of football rivalry." No further action was taken.
Within minutes of Brazil’s elimination from the World Cup, Cadiz midfielder Ivan Alejo published a tweet showing three dancing emojis and two monkey faces. He subsequently deleted the tweet amid a backlash yet faced no punishment.
At the turn of the year, video footage emerged of horrendous racist abuse directed at Vinicius during a La Liga clash at Valladolid. The individuals involved filmed and published their abuse of the player – displaying the confidence and comfort with which they could shout racial insults. Ronaldo Nazario, a compatriot and friend of Vinicius alongside being Valladolid president, pledged swift and full punishment for all those involved.
By the end of that month, a new low was reached. Ahead of a Madrid derby in the Copa del Rey, Atletico Madrid's neo-nazi ultra group Frente Atletico hung an effigy representing Vinicius from a bridge near Real Madrid's training facilities ahead of the match. A statement on the player’s behalf claimed: “He expects punishment from the authorities, not official statements."
More abuse followed. At Real Mallorca, a fan was banned for three years for targeting the Brazilian. At the Camp Nou during El Clasico. At Girona, where a man sitting in the home end was captured by the TV cameras making a monkey gesture to Vinicius.
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Speaking ahead of the first leg of Liverpool's Champions League clash against Madrid in February, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was asked by a journalist whether Vinicius brings abuse on himself as "an aspect of his game is sometimes provocative, that creates some reaction". As expected, the bemused Liverpool boss immediately shut down that theory.