Last Sunday at the Mestalla stadium an unfortunate event occurred fact of racism towards the Real Madrid player Vinícius Jr. by some Valencia fans, who insulted the Brazilian footballer from the stands.
This event is not the first time that it has occurred in Spanish football, the more globalized the sport has become and more and more foreigners are coming to the European leagues, these events continue to grow. Here we highlight some precedents of strong racism in The league from Spain.
Samuel Eto’o leaves the stadium
February 25, 2006 FC Barcelona visited Zaragoza at the La Romadera Stadium, the 75th minute was running with the match 0-0 and strong insults were heard from the stands towards the Culé striker Samuel Eto’o.
The Cameroonian told the referee of the match that he would not play anymore and began to walk towards the exit. The main Victor Esquina Torres refused to allow Eto’o to leave the field and in the end he was the coach Frank Rijkaard who convinced him to return to the field.
Eto’o left La Romareda without making any statements about what happened, the one who did speak was his teammate Ronaldinho, who said: “If he had left, I would have accompanied him, for sure. He had to reassure him, but he would have followed him ”.
Even Zaragoza striker Ewerton expressed his support for Eto’o’s behaviour. “I have played many years in Germany, where there is a lot of racism and I have never suffered from it. On the other hand, in Spain I have suffered it, but he hadn’t said anything so as not to attract attention. The referees should have more personality to stop the games, ”he indicated.
Zaragoza again
Just two weeks before the terrible episode in Eto’o, something similar happened in La Romadera this time Carlos Kameni who was goalkeeper of Espayol. The Cameroonian was one of the first players to publicly complain about certain racist gestures on soccer fields.
“My worst moment was in the Zaragoza field in my first year with Espanyol. We were leading 0-1 and they told me everything, to the point that the referee asked me if I wanted the game to stop, but I saw myself with the strength to continue. Two weeks after my episode, it happened again with Eto’o, with the monkey dance.”, confessed the goalkeeper in The spar.
Bananas to the field
In 2014 during a match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal, Daniel Alves He was getting ready to execute a corner kick when a banana was thrown at the Brazilian from the stands of the Estadio de La Cerámica, alluding to the fact that he was a “monkey”.
The player downplayed the event and even in the middle of the game took a bite of the banana that was thrown at him and later in a press conference he stated that: “I have been in Spain for 11 years and, during this time, always the same. You have to take it that way. You have to laugh and make fun of what these retards do“.
Hard time of the 90’s
In the 90s it was one of the strongest times in terms of racism in football, since insults of this type were seen as normal. The goalkeepers were the most affected, since they are next to the stands for 90 minutes.
In a meeting between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium the archer Wilfred Agbonavbare He lived a true hell after loud racist chants towards him. “Black, bastard, pick up the cotton” It was the message that the Real Madrid fans sent to the opposing goalkeeper. The images were recorded by TV cameras and there was no penalty.
Iñaki Williams has it more than clear
Before Vinicius was in the eye of the hurricane and was attacked in every field in Spain with racist insults, Inaki Williams from Athletic Club de Bilbao was the one who day after day received strong insults for his skin color.
Even in 2020, the Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office requested two years in prison and a $6,000 fine for two Espayol fans who were identified for making monkey gestures just when they Inaki Williams entered the field of play.
The one born in Spain, but who represents the Ghanaian team, showed his solidarity towards Vinícius Jr. in a Tweet expressing that “Racism is inadmissible in any circumstance, in football and in society. Let’s get this over with. No to racism”.
Keep reading:
· Vinícius Jr. attacks racism again and publishes a compilation video with the incidents in La Liga
· “Being black is a source of pride”: Ronaldinho also defends Vinícius
· The Christ the Redeemer of Rio de Janeiro remains in the dark in solidarity with Vinícius Jr.
