"A legal and societal problem" in Spain: Cédric Chasseur denounces racism after insults to Vinicius

Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin, with AFP / Photo credit: Jose Miguel Fernandez / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP 22:16 p.m., May 23, 2023

Accused of laissez-faire in the face of racism in football, Spanish authorities tightened the screws on Tuesday, two days after new insults were hurled at Brazilian star Vinicius Junior, which sparked a wave of international outrage. Seized of an investigation for "hate crime", criminal category including racist offenses, the Spanish police announced that they had arrested three young people suspected of "racist behavior" during Sunday's match in Valencia, where the Real Madrid striker was targeted by insults and monkey cries. But this announcement remains summary for the journalist Cédric Chasseur, who, in the program Europe 1 Sport (every evening from 20 hours to 23 hours live on Europe 1), recalled that in addition to the Spanish football authorities, there is also "a legal and societal problem, where it is difficult to manage people who engage in this kind of behavior."

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Collaboration of the Valencia club

These arrests, made thanks to "the collaboration of the club of Valencia", took place at dawn in this city in eastern Spain, detailed the police in a statement. "The investigation is continuing to identify other alleged perpetrators" of racist insults, she added. In parallel with this operation, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said it had suspended the video referee of the match between Valencia and Real Madrid, marked by multiple incidents, who will be replaced in his duties on the next day of the championship.

Nacho Iglesias Villanueva is accused of having provided the main referee with only the images of the gesture that earned Vinicius a red card at the end of the match, failing to broadcast those of the Valencia player, Hugo Duro, guilty of a gesture resembling a choke against the Brazilian.

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'Drastic measures'

Regular target of racist attacks since his arrival at Real Madrid in 2018, the Brazilian international stepped up to the plate Sunday night in a message posted on Instagram after the insults of Valencia. "It wasn't the first time, not the second, not the third. Racism is normal in La Liga," he said.

Pointed out for its supposed laxity, La Liga defended itself by indicating that it lacked sanctioning power. She said she had sent eight complaints to the courts this season for attacks on Vinicius, most of which have remained ineffective at this stage. Most Spanish media have also called for stronger action. "Even within some bodies of Spanish football, some refuse to deal with the problem," said Cédric Chasseur on the set of Europe 1 Sport. For Jimmy Algérino, "UEFA and FIFA must also intervene in this case."

"Condemning, it's not enough anymore," Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters on Tuesday. "The institutions have an opportunity, now, to take drastic measures on this important subject," insisted the Italian technician. In a statement, the Spanish government announced that it would propose to the Federation as well as La Liga an "awareness campaign" for supporters, with "specific actions" to fight against "the scourge of racism".