The Biggest Injury In Football
“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”
― Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give
Fair play, those words are always brought up in many sports events, especially in football. However, the idea of fair play that is supposed to leave a positive impression in the game is often forgotten and violated. In football matches, tensions can often run high. This allows for regrettable incidents to occur, including racism.
Many players have already experienced racial abuse, either from fellow players or supporters, and sometimes even from their own supporters. There have been many movements aimed at promoting anti-racism, such as Black Lives Matter, which is often demonstrated in football matches before they begin. However, despite the increasing awareness and the existence of anti-racism movements, why is racism still frequently encountered in a sport like football, which should uphold fair play? Why do many “authorities” remain silent? Let’s explore this.
Last Sunday, a heated match took place in La Liga — the first division of Spanish Football Competition. It pitted the defending champions, Real Madrid, whose hopes for back-to-back titles had already been dashed, against Valencia, who were fighting to stay out of the relegation zone. In that match, Real Madrid found themselves trailing 1–0 to the home team, Valencia.
The game, which was already heated, further stirred the emotions of the players after a foul between Vinicius Jr. and Hugo Duro. Long story short, Vinicius Jr., a young and immensely talented footballer who was emotional at the moment, was repeatedly got monkey chants from the Valencia supporters in the stands and ultimately he got a red card. I found this is ridicilous because Hugo fouled Vinicius first by smack him down. This was not the first time Vinicius Jr. had experienced such a racist treatment, which finally pushed him to his breaking point. After the match, Vinicius Jr. expressed his frustration on his social media accounts about this incident.
It wasn’t the first time, not the second and not the third. Racism is normal in La Liga. The competition thinks it’s normal, so does the Federation and the opponents encourage it. I am soo sorry . The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano and Messi, today belongs to the racists. A beautiful nation, which welcomed me and I love, but which accepted to export the image to the world from a racist country. Sorry for the Spaniards who do not agree, but today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists. And unfortunately with everything that happens on a weekly basis, I have no way to defend. I agree. But I’m strong and will go to the end against the racists. Even though its far from here.
There are several points that we all should question, and one of them is the perception that La Liga has underestimated this incident. La Liga seems to prioritize the image of its competition rather than choosing to address issues like racism seriously. Furthermore, the defense made by Valencia appears illogical and an attempt to wash their hands of the problem. This has provoked a response from Real Madrid, who intend to take this matter to court.
When authorities fail to take decisive action against racial abuse, it perpetuates a culture of silence and impunity. The lack of consequences sends a message that racism is tolerated, thereby emboldening perpetrators and undermining the fight against discrimination. The silence also deters victims from speaking out, fearing that their voices will go unheard and justice will remain elusive.
Sadly, Vinicius Junior’s experience is not an isolated incident. Racism in football has persisted for far too long, staining the beautiful game and inflicting pain on players from diverse backgrounds. Whether it’s on the pitch, in the stands, or even on social media, footballers continue to face racial abuse. The impact of such abuse extends beyond the individual players, affecting the wider football community and reinforcing harmful stereotypes.
The Vinicius Junior case serves as a stark reminder that racism still lurks within the realm of football, staining the sport and undermining its core values of fairness and inclusivity. It highlights the urgent need for collective action from institutions, clubs, players, and fans to eradicate racism from the beautiful game.
It is high time for those in power to break their silence, take decisive action against racism, and work towards fostering a more inclusive and equitable future for the sport. By standing united against racial abuse, we can ensure that players like Vinicius Junior and many others are heard, protected, and allowed to thrive in a footballing environment free from discrimination.
