"We must train the referees," recommends Jacques Vendroux after the racist insults against Vinicius

Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin, with AFP / Photo credit: Valerio Pennicino / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / Getty Images via AFP 21:15 p.m., May 22, 2023, modified at 21:17 p.m., May 22, 2023

In the wake of the new insults hurled at Vinicius Jr, the Brazilian striker of Real Madrid, Spanish football is once again confronted with the scourge of racism in its stadiums. The prosecutor's office in Valencia (southeast), where the Brazilian star was insulted Sunday during a league match lost by the merengue club against the local team (1-0), has, on its own initiative, opened investigations for an alleged "hate crime", we learned from judicial sources. This criminal category includes racist insults. A situation strongly condemned by the consultants of the program Europe 1 Sport (every evening from 20 hours to 23 hours live on Europe 1).

"This type of discrimination must be condemned. Racism is a scourge. I can understand his disgust," reacted with conviction the former footballer Alain Roche in the sports show. Earlier in the day, Spain's Higher Sports Council (CSD), equivalent to the State Secretariat for Sports in France, said it was analyzing the images to identify "the perpetrators of these insults and behaviors to propose the appropriate sanctions". An announcement welcomed by Alain Roche: "We have the videos, we must punish these people."

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"Monkey"

The Federation also called for the adoption of "more vigorous measures", which could go as far as the closure of stands, or even stadiums in case of recurrence. For their part, Real Madrid and AFE, the main players' union in Spain, announced that they had filed a complaint with the Spanish prosecutor general for an investigation. On a more political level, the Spanish government, through its Minister of Consumer Affairs, Alberto Garzon, called for "a firm response" against this phenomenon which "shows that racism is very deeply rooted in certain specific groups of supporters (...)".

"Those responsible must take the bull by the horns. It is up to the leaders to stop the match, that the players do not resume and there must be a general desire. It is necessary that the referees are trained in these cases and stop the match immediately, "recommended Jacques Vendroux in Europe 1 Sport who also urged the boss of refereeing in France, Eric Borghini to prepare the French referees in these cases.

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Multiple supports

After this episode, support for Vinicius poured in from all over the world. Starting with Brazil, where the president of the Federation, Ednaldo Rodrigues, assured on social networks that Vinicius had "the love of all Brazilians". "New episode of racism in La Liga and once again Vini is the victim," said Ronaldo, the legend of the Seleçao. "This will last as long as impunity and complicity" continue. "With you," Neymar posted. Paris SG star Kylian Mbappé has also taken a stand. "You're not alone. We are with you and support you," he wrote in English on Instagram.