During a press conference on Monday, Brazilian striker Vinicius Júnior tearfully discussed the impact of the anti-racism fight on his life and career, ahead of a friendly match against Spain. His emotional display quickly captured worldwide attention.
Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United and England defender, openly supported Vinicius, criticizing the prevalence of racism in Spanish football and the inadequate response from authorities, including LaLiga.
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On the social network X, Ferdinand questioned, “Is Spain a racist country? I don’t know,” highlighting his concern over the acceptance of racism in stadiums by Spanish authorities. He found the sight of Vinicius breaking down “heartbreaking” and called for major changes in football governance and stronger actions from top organizations. Ferdinand tagged UEFA, LaLiga, Vini Jr, and Neymar in his post, expressing solidarity.
Is Spain a racist country???
I don’t know as I don’t live there to know or see that experience. But I know there is RACISM in the stadiums there & it seems to be accepted by the authorities for some reason??? To see a young man break down in a press conference like @vinijr is… pic.twitter.com/s0bhiPH449— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) March 26, 2024
Vinicius became emotional when addressing the importance of combating racism in his career. After pausing to compose himself, he emphasized his hope to reduce racism and achieve normalcy for black people. Despite the challenges, he remains dedicated to this cause, acknowledging the difficulty of staying focused amid racism.
