Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior was once again subjected to disgusting racist abuse in LaLiga on Sunday night and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has already shut down justification of the attacks.
Real Madrid’s match against Valencia was paused by the referee after Vinicius pointed out the supporters who were taunting him with ‘monkey’ chants to the referee. The Brazil international was visibly on the verge of tears on the pitch and was clearly incensed, with teammates attempting to quell his anger.
Vinicius was later sent off for violent conduct in added time of his side's 1-0 defeat following an altercation with Valencia striker Hugo Duro – the first red card of his career. Vinicius struck out at his opponent, who had him in a headlock but escaped punishment following a VAR review.
As the red card was shown to Vinicius, the co-commentator on LaLiga TV’s international feed – which was broadcast in the UK – provisioned the racial abuse of Vinicius with the fact that the player himself did not behave perfectly.
“He is telling the Valencia fans they are going to the second division,” the co-commentator explains, before adding: “We should stand against racism but we should also say that he is not an angel. He is not perfect. Sometimes he provokes the other teams.
“After the racial abuse, we cannot say he is a saint. He is always making mistakes.”
The theory that Vinicius ‘provokes’ opponents has been used as a means to contextualise and explain the disgusting racist abuse that he receives. When the theory was put to Klopp earlier in the season, he dismantled the argument in brutal fashion.
Speaking ahead of the first leg of Liverpool's Champions League clash against Madrid in February, Klopp was asked by a journalist whether Vinicius brings abuse on himself due to "an aspect of his game is sometimes provocative, that creates some reaction". As expected, the bemused Liverpool boss immediately shut down that theory.
Klopp replied: "That he is doing something on the pitch that could cause it? There is nothing in the world that could justify that. Imagine if I say yes, that would be completely insane."
Klopp went on to describe Vinicius as a "world-class player". The Brazil international has scored 23 club goals in all competitions this season and has helped Real win six trophies since January 2022 - including the league title, Champions League and Club World Cup.
