Following the hanging of an effigy of Real Madrid player Vincius Junior from a bridge in Madrid, the national police press office for the Madrid region told CNN on Thursday that they had launched an inquiry “for a probable hate crime.”
The effigy, which was wearing a Real Madrid shirt with Vincius’ name and No. 20 on the back, was shown dangling from a bridge close to Real Madrid’s training facility along with a placard that read, “Madrid hates Real,” in footage that have received a lot of attention on social media.
As soon as they learned about the effigy on Thursday morning at around 8:30 a.m. local time (2:30 a.m. ET), police from the Hortaleza station, closest to the bridge, went to remove it. However, when they arrived, the banner reading “Madrid hates Real” was no longer hanging there, according to the press office.
On Thursday night at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid will play Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey quarterfinal.
The Spanish league issued a statement on Twitter in which it “strongly condemns acts of intolerance and intimidation towards Vincius Jr.”
La Liga, like in the past, will push for an inquiry by pertinent state security forces and bodies, calling for convictions of those at fault and the harshest penalties.
Ad Feedback Atlético stated that the effigy “embarrasses society” and is “repugnant and repulsive.”
The club issued a statement saying, “Our opposition to whatever act that violates the dignity of people or institutions is absolute and unequivocal.”
“The competition between the two clubs is intense, but so is the respect. No one, regardless of their intentions or their hue, can sully the harmonious coexistence of the two fanbases. Everyone is accountable for preventing that.
“We do not know who committed this heinous atrocity, but the fact that they remain unidentified does not absolve them of blame. We sincerely hope that the situation may be resolved by the authorities and that justice can help put an end to this kind of behavior.
In response to the regrettable and abhorrent act of racism, xenophobia, and hatred towards Vini Jr., Real Madrid said it “wants to thank the support and signs of concern received.”
It issued a statement saying, “We declare our most adamant disapproval against these crimes that assault the fundamental human rights and dignity and have nothing to do with the principles that constitute football and sport.
“These assaults, like the one our player is currently experiencing or the ones that any athlete could experience, have no place in a society like ours.
Real Madrid hopes that whomever was involved in these heinous acts will be held accountable.
Vincius has experienced racial insults from opposing team supporters in the past.
Vincius said he experienced racial abuse from the crowd during Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory against Real Valladolid on December 30 of last year. Videos posted on social media showed supporters throwing objects at the forward as he exited the field after being substituted.
According to Reuters, Vincius later accused La Liga of being indifferent to racial abuse. The Spanish league responded by announcing that “a criminal charge for hate crimes has been filed with the Valladolid Magistrates’ Courts, supported by audiovisual evidence gathered in the investigation carried out through images and audio clips published on open sources.”
On September 14, 2022, in Madrid, Vincius Jr. dribbles during Real Madrid’s Champions League match versus RB Leipzig.
On September 14, 2022, in Madrid, Vincius Jr. dribbles during Real Madrid’s Champions League match versus RB Leipzig.
Images by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno for Getty Getty Images, Europe
La Liga has pledged to step up efforts to “eradicate any sort of violence, racism, or xenophobia inside and outside stadiums,” according to Reuters.
The 22-year-old was subjected to racial chanting in September 2022 during the league derby by an Atlético supporter section.
A sizable contingent of Atlético supporters could be heard yelling, “You are a monkey, Vincius, you are a monkey,” outside of Atleti’s Metropolitano Stadium, according to a video provided to Twitter by Spanish radio station COPE.
According to a prosecution source who spoke to CNN, Spanish prosecutors ended their investigation into the racist chants directed at Vincius at Atletico’s Metropolitano stadium in December because they were unable to pin down the perpetrators.
Two days prior, Vincius had denounced the criticism that he perceived to be racist in relation to his dancing goal celebrations.
Leading agent Pedro Bravo, who is also the president of the Association of Spanish Agents, claimed on Spanish television in September that the Brazilian striker “should stop playing the monkey” and respect his opponents by dancing in celebration after scoring.
Many people on social media accused Bravo of using racist rhetoric; Bravo later issued an apology on Twitter.
After Vincius’ teammate Rodrygo scored the game’s first goal and the two danced in celebration, numerous Atlético fans were observed making gestures in their direction.
They believe that happiness bothers. Vincius has spoken about the racist abuse he has received for his dance celebrations. Much more upsetting is the joy of a Black Brazilian victor in Europe.
“But my smile, my eyes, and my will to win are much bigger than that. You simply cannot imagine it. I was the target of a racist and xenophobic remark. However, none of that began yesterday. They started criminalizing my dances a few weeks ago. Those are not my dances.
They are the property of Neymar, Ronaldinho, Lucas Paqueta, Antoine Griezmann, Joo Félix, and Matheus Cunha. They are the property of Black Americans, reggaeton vocalists, and Brazilian funk and samba musicians.
“Those dances honor the world’s diverse cultural heritage. Respect it by accepting it. I won’t stop doing this.