The racism controversy involving Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. has now drawn a response from the very top of Spanish football.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has addressed the situation publicly after the Brazilian accused Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during the UEFA Champions League play-off first leg in Portugal.
The alleged incident has sparked debate across Europe, once again putting the spotlight on racism in football.
Tebas was asked directly about the matter while speaking at the Financial Times Summit in London.
Tebas made it clear that football authorities cannot afford to remain silent when such accusations surface. Speaking firmly during the event, he said,
“If a player utters an insult, they must be punished.
“We cannot tolerate racist, homophobic, or hateful insults, either in the stands, outside the stadium, or, even less so, among those who participate in this sport.”
Say no to racism
Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid player
Vinicius was allegedly abused against Benfica. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The La Liga president used the platform to emphasise that racism, whether from players or supporters, cannot be normalised under any circumstances.
He then moved on to discuss the broader situation in Spain, arguing that progress has been made in recent years.
According to the league president, incidents of racist abuse inside Spanish stadiums have significantly reduced.
“I think we have much less (racist insults) in Spain. If you look at our history, racist insults in stadiums have decreased significantly.
“The last one was against Lamine Yamal at the Santiago Bernabéu, but I can’t remember any others, not even in the lower divisions.
“We have to reduce it as much as possible, and we are also working hard outside the stadium. We prosecute any racist chants by fans and we go all the way.
“We have done so in four cases and we will continue to do so,” he noted.
Source: Mundo Deportivo