Abraham P. Romero Madrid
Madrid
Updated Monday, March 25, 2024-16:40
Vinicius Júnior
was the protagonist in the
Spain-Brazil
preview that takes place this Tuesday at the
Santiago Bernabéu
. A match that is more than just a friendly between two great teams, it is also a turning point for Spanish football, accused of racism beyond its borders after racist insults to the Real
Madrid
footballer .
In the Valdebebas
press room
, full of Spanish, Brazilian and international media, the attacker of the white team and the
seleçao
collapsed when talking about racism
. "What frustrates me most is the lack of punishment. Every game, every day, with every complaint... I feel sadder.
But it's not just me who suffers, I also fight for all the black people who suffer racism every day.
For my father, between him and a white man, they will always choose the white man at work. It was very difficult for him to work. I have fought a lot and I have denounced a lot, and no one is supporting me, it is sadder every day."
In full reflection,
Vinicius burst into tears
. He apologized to the media and admitted that "
I just want to play football and for black people not to suffer."
The press officer of the Brazilian Federation offered to stop the press conference, but the player said no, that he wanted to continue, receiving applause from those present.
"
They insult me because I'm fighting
. I just want it to never happen to anyone again in the future," he said. "I get my strength from my family, from the people who suffer, because I know where I come from, from a place where there was not much future. Being here I already know that they have won. It is very difficult, but I fight every day for those who continue suffering," he added.
Vinicius admitted that "
I am sure that Spain is not a racist country
, but there are many racists and many of them are in the stadiums." "Maybe people don't know what racism is. At 23 years old, I have to teach many Spaniards what racism is..." he declared.
The Brazilian lamented that "
since I have reported, things are increasing because they are not punished
, they can do and say anything." "All the words they say about the color of my skin can affect me on the field, and I can play badly... And I just want to play, I just want to be well, and go with the peace of mind that no one is going to judge me for the color of my skin."
The footballer wanted to thank his teammates, "the president and Madrid" for their support, and rejected the idea that the solution was to leave the white team and leave the League. "
I have never thought about leaving here
because if I leave here I will give the racists what they want. I want to continue playing for the best club in the world and scoring goals so that people can see my face more and more. I play to give them joy to the people. Racists are always in the minority.
Regarding FIFA and UEFA, he criticized that "
they are white people talking about racism, there is a lack of representation
." And he admitted that "I am 23 years old, I have to improve, it is a natural process, I left Brazil young and I was not able to learn so many things. But now I want to continue fighting so that black people have the same possibilities."
Regarding LaLiga, he declared that "he had meetings with me, but since racism is not a crime here it is complicated for them."