Real Madrid’s recent 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano has garnered headlines for all the wrong reasons, including the performance of the referee and the VAR.
In addition, Vinicius Jr. is in hot waters with La Liga after appearing to mock Rayo supporters as he left the pitch at full-time.
Video footage showed that he made questionable gestures to the Rayo Vallecano fans, apparently mocking the club of getting relegated.
Javier Tebas backs Vinicius
Vinicius’ gestures have caused a stir at Rayo Vallecano, but it appears the Brazilian has found himself an unlikely ally in the form of Javier Tebas.
The La Liga president has come to the defence of the Real Madrid superstar by clarifying the context of the incident.
Vinicius Junior once again in the limelight (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“The chants were not racist, it is important to clarify it, but they called him a fool and there was a reaction to Vinicius’ departure,” he said (h/t SPORT).
He added that with such insults, there can be a provocation leading to heated responses from players, a situation not unique to Vinicius.
“I think that with those insults there can be a provocation and the player, like everyone else, gets heated and nothing more. We will see what happens, it is up to the committee. I don’t get involved there,” he added.
Tebas believes Vinicius’s reaction was similar to those of many players when provoked.
“Many players get heated and Vinícius is one more. There were also some insults from the stands that have to be evaluated. They were not racist shouts nor do I consider what he did exaggerated,” he added.
Meanwhile, La Liga will lodge a formal complaint with the Disciplinary Committee, addressing both the chants from the Rayo Vallecano fans and Vinicius’s gesture in response.