Vinicius was called 'scum'

Spain According to former Valencia president Paco Roig, skin colour is not the reason why Vinicius is being ostracised in Spain.

"Vinicius is a great player, but as a person, he is a piece of shit," Paco Roig, president of Valencia FC from 1994 to 1997, told Spanish channel Relevo on September 22.

Roig explained the view that Vinicius always complains to referees during matches, complains about racism, but always fights with opposing fans. He also criticized the Brazilian player who climbed the Mestalla fence, argued with fans and cursed Valencia's relegation.

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SportFootballThe LeagueMonday, September 23, 2024, 20:32 (GMT+7)

Vinicius was called 'scum'

Spain According to former Valencia president Paco Roig, skin colour is not the reason why Vinicius is being ostracised in Spain.

"Vinicius is a great player, but as a person, he is a piece of shit," Paco Roig, president of Valencia FC from 1994 to 1997, told Spanish channel Relevo on September 22.

Roig explained the view that Vinicius always complains to referees during matches, complains about racism, but always fights with opposing fans. He also criticized the Brazilian player who climbed the Mestalla fence, argued with fans and cursed Valencia's relegation.

Vinicius celebrates scoring in Real's 4-1 win over Espanyol on September 21. Photo: AFP

Vinicius celebrates scoring in Real's 4-1 win over Espanyol on September 21. Photo: AFP

According to Roig, many other black Real players have never experienced racism. He also cited the example of Romario, a black Brazilian player who, like Vinicius, never experienced racism when playing in La Liga in the early 1990s.

"Real are now immigrant Real. Their first team has eight black players, two white foreign players and one Spanish player, but Vinicius is the only one who complains about this subject," Roig added.

On September 15, another black player, Lamine Yamal, scored a brace in Barca’s 4-1 win over Girona. At that time, Girona fans gave the opposing star a round of applause.

Spanish journalist Josep Capdevila asked Vinicius: "I don't understand. Yamal is a black player, but left the Girona stadium with applause. Can you explain that to me, Vinicius?".

In 2023, Vinicius accused Spanish fans of racially abusing and chanting at him during matches. Some fans hung an effigy of the player on a bridge in Madrid, leading to four arrests by police. Vinicius accused La Liga of normalizing racism and advocated tougher sanctions.

In support of the player, Real issued an official statement condemning the racist behavior, calling it a direct attack on Spain's democratic coexistence model. The Bernabeu team also reported the incident as a "hate crime" to the Attorney General's Office. In June 2023, FIFA President Gianni Infantino appointed Vinicius as head of the Special Anti-Racism Committee.

Vinicius has been with Real since 2018, scoring 86 goals in 272 games. The 24-year-old striker has also helped Real win 13 titles, including two Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles. According to bookmakers, Vinicius is the top candidate for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, ahead of Rodri and Jude Bellingham. On October 28, the organizer of the award, France Football magazine, will announce the winner at a ceremony in Paris.