(Football news) Valencia will be forced to close the Mario Kempes stand, where chants targeting Vinicius Jr originated during their 1-0 win over Real Madrid on Sunday. The Spanish FA have also fined them €45,000 for the incident. With only one match remaining at the Mestalla Stadium, Valencia will be playing the other four home games next season with a partial stadium ban. Moreover, the Spanish FA (RFEF) have also overturned the red card given to Vinicius Jr in the match.
A statement released by the RFEF said “The Competition Committee has sanctioned Valencia CF with the partial closure of the Mestalla stadium for five matches, specifically the Mario Kempes South Stand, following the events that occurred during the match between the team and Real Madrid. It is considered proven that, as reflected by the referee in his report, there were racist shouts at Vinicius, altering the normal course of the match and the infractions are considered very serious.
“In addition, an economic sanction of €45,000 is imposed on Valencia. The RFEF Competition Committee considers that the referee’s assessment was determined by the omission of the entirety of the play that took place, which affected the refereeing decision. The fact that he was deprived of a decisive part of the facts led him to adopt an arbitrary decision. And this is because it was impossible for him to properly assess what happened.”
The Spanish police have also arrested seven men in connection with separate racist incidents targeting Vinicius Jr. Four were detained for allegedly burning an effigy of Vinicius in January while three others are “radical group of fans of a Madrid group” that were previously flagged as “high risk”. The effigy was hung during a Copa del Rey fixture between Real Madrid and rivals Atletico Madrid with the words “Madrid hates Real”. Three other men were arrested on Tuesday in Valencia in connection to the racist abuse Vinicius faced at the Mestalla stadium.
The LaLiga has called for a change in Spanish law to sanction powers to help fight racism more effectively. As things stand, the LaLiga can only identify and report cases but are seeking an amendment that enables it to bring disciplinary action. After the incident, Vinicius Jr tweeted “It wasn’t the first time, nor the second, nor the third. Racism is normal in LaLiga. In football they think it’s normal, the federation does too – and the opponent encourages it. I’m so sad. The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano (Ronaldo) and (Lionel) Messi today belongs to racism.
“A beautiful nation, which welcomed me and which I love, but which agreed to export the image of a racist country to the world. I’m sorry for the Spaniards who don’t agree but today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists. And unfortunately, for something that happens each week, I have no defence. I let it happen. But I am strong and I will go to the end against racists. Even if it is far from here.”
A statement released by Real Madrid read “Real Madrid strongly condemns the events that took place yesterday against our player Vinicius Junior. These events represent a direct attack on the social and democratic model of coexistence of our state based on the rule of law. Real Madrid believes that such attacks also constitute a hate crime and has therefore filed the corresponding report with the Attorney General’s Office, specifically with the Prosecutor’s Office against crimes of hatred and discrimination, in order for the facts to be investigated and for those responsible to be held accountable.”
Also read: LaLiga has a racism problem which could impact future transfers in the league
