[imagesource: Wikimedia Commons]

Real Madrid player Vinícius Jr. has received his fair share of racist comments and vitriol over the years, but a dummy wearing his shirt hanged from a bridge in front of the club’s training centre in advance of the Madrid derby has taken it too far.

Real Madrid hosted Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Thursday.

According to the police, the mannequin was strung up next to a banner in Atlético’s red-and-white colours that read “Madrid hates Real” on the day.

The 22-year-old Brazilian – recently awarded duel citizenship for Spain – said he expects punishment to be handed out by Spanish authorities to whoever orchestrated this racist stunt. Official statements won’t cut it anymore.

The national police’s press office for the Madrid region told CNN that the Spanish national police have opened an investigation “for a possible hate crime”.

Ahead of the Madrid derby, a banner has been placed on an overpass that reads ‘Madrid hates Real’.

Below it hangs a mannequin wearing a Vinicius Junior shirt.pic.twitter.com/25kv9q85jn

— Football España (@footballespana_) January 26, 2023

This is pure hatred from @athleticomadrid fans.
They hanged up a Doll in a bridge depicting @vinijr
This is unacceptable in football how cruel can you be really?
The sign says “Madrid hates Real”
Following tonight derby encounter. pic.twitter.com/2H8FH9y9Fn

— Steleka The Pianist (@steleka94) January 26, 2023

The Spanish league meanwhile released a statement on Twitter, saying it “strongly condemns acts of hatred and intimidation against Vinícius Jr”:

“La Liga, as in the past, will press for an investigation into the matter by relevant state security forces and bodies, seeking convictions for those responsible and requesting the most severe sentences.”

Atlético said the effigy was “repugnant and unacceptable” and that it “embarrass[es] society”:

“Our condemnation to whichever act that attacks the dignity of people or institutions is absolute and unequivocal,” the club said in a statement.

“The rivalry between the two clubs is maximum, but the respect is as well. No individual, whatever their intentions or their colors, can mar the coexistence between the two fanbases. It’s everyone’s responsibility to avoid that.”

Real Madrid, too, said it is grateful for the “signs of care received following the lamentable and repugnant act of racism, xenophobia and hate against our player Vini Jr”.

Unfortunately, this kind of racist onslaught is nothing new to Vinícius.

In Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Real Valladolid on December 30 last year, Vinícius said he was subjected to racist abuse from the crowd who threw things at him while on the field.

In September 2022, too, a group of Atlético fans subjected the 22-year-old to racist chanting – “You are a monkey, Vinícius, you are a monkey” – during the derby in the league.

This was straight after Vinícius condemned what he described as racist criticism he received for his dancing goal celebrations.

Vinícius has discussed the racist abuse he has faced for his dancing celebrations, saying: “They say that happiness bothers. The happiness of a victorious Black Brazilian in Europe bothers much more.”

“But my desire to win, my smile and the sparkle in my eyes are much bigger than that. You can’t even imagine it. I was a victim of a xenophobic and racist comment. But none of that started yesterday. Weeks ago they began to criminalize my dances. Dances that are not mine.”

“They belong to Ronaldinho, Neymar, [Lucas] Paquetá, [Antoine] Griezmann, João Félix, Matheus Cunha … they belong to Brazilian funk and samba artists, reggaeton singers, and Black Americans.

He finished off powerfully with: “Those are dances to celebrate the cultural diversity of the world. Accept it, respect it. I’m not going to stop.”

Don’t stop. Agitate the racists till they disgrace themselves fully.

[sources:cnn&aljazeera]