Miércoles, 4 de septiembre 2024, 11:50
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Racism, Spain, and the 2030 World Cup. These three concepts are once again at the forefront of the news. Vinicius Júnior, the Real Madrid forward, has once again highlighted the issue to Spanish fans, this time through an international outlet, American CNN. “If racism continues in Spain, the World Cup should be held elsewhere,” he proposed. “If a player does not feel comfortable and safe playing in a country where they can suffer racism, it is somewhat complicated.”
In just over three minutes, the Brazilian international has brought the issue of racism in Spain back to the table, although he remains optimistic about the future. “I hope it can evolve and people can understand how serious it is to insult someone because of their skin color,” he warned. The forward for the white team has been subjected to several racist episodes in LaLiga football stadiums.
In recent months, the Prosecutor’s Office has taken several racist chants to court. The latest incidents occurred this week and were directed against Athletic Bilbao’s forward Nico Williams. “We have a significant margin for evolution until 2030,” he stated in last weekend’s interview. “I want to do everything possible to make things change,” he explained.
Despite his striking words, Vinicius emphasizes Spain’s hospitality and his love for the country. “What happens is that a small group ends up affecting the image of a country where it is very good to live,” he clarified. “There are many people in Spain who are not racist,” he highlighted.
Leaving the Field
During the interview on the American channel, the footballer made it clear that racism is a continuous debate on the field. “We talk about it often,” he affirmed. And they do not rule out taking action. “Not just me, but all players have said that if it happens again (a racist episode), we will have to leave the field so that they face much greater sanctions,” he informed.
In these terms, he highlighted the work of institutions – FIFA, UEFA, and LaLiga – and assured that he understands that fighting racism “is complicated” because “it is not a crime.” “Nowadays, perhaps some fans are still racist, but they are afraid to express themselves in football stadiums and places where there are many cameras. With that, we will gradually reduce racism. Of course, we will not be able to eliminate it completely, but I am already glad to be able to change Spain’s mentality.”
