Vinicius Junior's battle to fight incidents of racism in Spain has hit a roadblock, following a decision made by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
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La Liga filed report of racial abuse aimed at ViniBrazilian fighting ongoing battle against racismPublic Prosecutor's Office's decision not in Madrid star's favourFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Since Vinicius Junior arrived in Madrid from Brazil at the age of 18 in 2018, he has frequently been subjected to racism both on and off the pitch. The Brazil international has been at the forefront of a long-standing battle against racism and discrimination, although a recent decision by the Public Prosecutor's Office is likely to feel like a significant setback for the 24-year-old winger.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
In October 2023, during the El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Vinicius was allegedly racially abused, with reports claiming he was called a “f*cking monkey". La Liga reported the incident to authorities, leading to a legal case. However, the Public Prosecutor's Office has now requested to close the case, citing insufficient evidence to confirm that the offensive comments were a crime of incitement to hatred, according to EFE (via Mundo Deportivo).
DID YOU KNOW?
Despite requesting to close the case, the Public Prosecutor's Office has recommended that the investigating judge forward the matter to the Office of Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination, per the report. This is to determine whether a sanctioning process should be initiated against those involved, should it be deemed appropriate.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS?
Having already scored a game-winning goal for Brazil against Colombia last week, the 2024 Ballon d'Or runner-up will be hoping to help the Selecao register back-to-back wins to strengthen their 2026 World Cup qualifying chances when they face arch-rivals Argentina on Wednesday, March 26.
