The entire Real Madrid team took to the pitch wearing Vinicius Jr’s shirt on Wednesday night after his teammate racially assaulted Valencia fans last weekend.
The atrocious chants directed at Vinicius Jr, 22, at the Mestalla stadium led referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea to stop Sunday’s match. The chants continued, however, once the match restarted in heartbreaking scenes that have been condemned around the world in recent days.
The Spanish Football Federation said late Tuesday that a partial closure of the stadium in Valencia would be imposed due to the behaviour of its supporters, with the club’s south stand closed for five matches. The LaLiga team was also fined €45,000).
It also showed that a red card he showed Vinicius Jr in the final moments of the match had been cancelled, meaning Brazil’s foreigner lost to play Wednesday night’s LaLiga match against Rayo Vallecano.
However, Los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti has hinted that Vinicius will be chosen after the midfielder missed training earlier this week.
Following Vinicius Jr’s absence from the squad against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night, the Real Madrid squad went to the Bernabeu dressed in the winger’s 20th blouse in a touching display for his teammate, who has suffered terrible abuse in more than one instance this season.
Real Madrid’s move comes less than 24 hours after Barcelona striker Raphinha was warned for cutting his blouse to reveal a message of help to Vinicius Jr. in the final stages of Barca’s match against Real Valladolid.
Raphiinha’s waistcoat said, “As long as the color of the skin is more than the brightness of the eyes, there will be war. “The back of his jacket also had the message: “We are together, Vinicius.
Following Sunday night’s incident, the Spanish government showed that action was being taken on Tuesday night.
A statement from the Spanish Football Federation reads: “The party committee has sanctioned Valencia CF with the partial closure of the Mestalla stadium for five matches, especially the south stand of Mario Kempes, after the events that occurred during the match of the championship of the National League of the first division between the home team and Real Madrid CF.
“It is thought as demonstrated that, as indicated by the referee in his report, there were racist shouts at Vinicius, Real Madrid CF player, the aforementioned lace, changing the general course of it and contemplating the infractions as very serious.
In addition, Valencia is fined 45,000 euros.
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