Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal was overshadowed by yet another case of racist abuse targeting Vinícius Jr.
The match at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián had to be briefly stopped after a Real Sociedad fan was caught on video making monkey gestures at the Brazilian winger, who has been a repeated target of racism in Spain.
Racism abuse against Vinicius continues
This was Vinícius’ first time captaining Real Madrid, a milestone that should have been a proud moment but was instead tainted by disgraceful actions from the stands.
The game had already been marred by controversy, as offensive chants directed at Madrid defender Raúl Asencio forced referee José María Sánchez Martínez to pause the match and activate La Liga’s anti-racism protocol, an action rarely taken in Spanish football.
The abuse toward Vinícius Jr. was widely condemned, with images of the incident spreading rapidly on social media.
Real Sociedad responded by displaying an anti-racism message on the stadium’s big screen, urging fans to support their team without resorting to hate.
However, such measures have done little to prevent repeated incidents of racism against the Brazilian star.
This latest attack adds to a troubling pattern of abuse directed at Vinícius Jr.
In recent years, he has been the subject of racist chants, online hate campaigns, and even threats, including the shocking display of a mannequin wearing his jersey being hung from a bridge by Atletico Madrid ultras.
Despite arrests and legal action taken in some cases, the issue remains persistent in Spanish football.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed that Vinícius was visibly affected by the situation, prompting his substitution at halftime.
“He spoke to the referee, the referee applied the protocol, but he was clearly shaken. I took him off for his well-being and because he had already received a yellow card,”Ancelotti explained.
Despite the disturbing scenes, Vinícius remained resilient, later posting on social media: “Living unforgettable moments with the club of my dreams!”
Endrick was the star of the game in Wednesday’s match for Los Blancos scoring the game’s only goal in the firs halt.
In other bad news for Real fans, Dani Cevallos had to be subbed out in the second half due to injury.
The team released a statement on Thursday confirming the leg injury
“After the examinations conducted today on our player Dani Ceballos by the medical services of Real Madrid, the diagnosis clarified that he suffers from an injury to the semimembranosus muscle that affects the tendon of his left leg.”
Madrid now turn their attention to the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 1, where they will aim to secure a place in the final.
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