Atlético de Madrid issued a formal statement on Tuesday denouncing the racial slurs directed at Vinicius just two days before the derby against Real Madrid at the Civitas Metropolitano. The club highlighted its zero tolerance for racism and reaffirmed its determination to stand against this social scourge.
Atlético’s official response arrived nearly 48 hours after hundreds of radical supporters chanted racist remarks near the stadium, targeting the Real Madrid forward with the words: You are a monkey, Vinicius you are a monkey.
The club, led by Enrique Cerezo, described the incident as unacceptable. It said the chants came from a minority of fans that causes enormous disgust and anger. The statement stressed that the club cannot allow anyone to associate its fanbase with such behavior or misrepresent its values because of a minority that does not reflect the club’s true character.
Official description
— Atlético Madrid (@Atleti) September 20, 2022
In line with this stance, Atlético pledged to withdraw the status of radicals identified as guilty of shouting these slurs as members of the club. Media outlets, including EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA, noted that the chants were not sung inside the stadium, while Ultras groups are known to be registered and easily identifiable by authorities.
The club asserted that it has contacted the authorities and offered full cooperation in investigations, including providing identities of those who joined the club to proceed with immediate expulsions where appropriate.
A moment of reflection
Regardless, Atlético called for a broad reflection within the football community. The organization stated that the events leading up to the derby are unacceptable and stressed that the club condemns them without reservation. Throughout the week, professionals from various fields engaged in a debate, some of which sparked a backlash for the actions and demonstrations that followed, according to the Madrid club.
The issue of racial slurs against Vinicius is set to be reviewed at the next meeting of the Anti-Violence Commission, with several members, including LaLiga, signaling an intent to investigate incidents that occurred outside the stadium and their seriousness.
On the same Tuesday, in an interview with an American publication, a government leader apologized for the insults aimed at Vinicius and expressed sympathy with Atlético’s position. The leader called for a strong message from clubs against such behavior and said he would raise the matter with his team, hoping the message would resonate in Madrid’s Metropolitano.