A Sevilla fan who made racist gestures toward a Brazilian player became a viral incident on social media.
The issue of racism remains a major challenge in the competition. It occurred during the match between Sevilla and Real Madrid at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, when a fan gestured in a way that evoked a monkey to insult Vinicius Junior.
Following the incident, Vinicius Junior addressed his followers, noting that beyond the clip that circulated, there is also footage of a child making racist gestures, a moment he deeply regrets.
“I was able to see another racist act from Saturday’s game, this time involving a child. It pains me that there is no one to teach him better. I invest significantly in education in Brazil to shape citizens with a different attitude,” he wrote.
The Real Madrid forward closed his message with a sharp remark, reflecting the ongoing barrage of racist abuse he has faced since arriving in Spain in 2018: “Sorry to sound repetitive, but this marks isolated episode number 19. And it keeps counting…”.
Sevilla’s swift response to the incident drew praise in a difficult moment for Spanish football.
I also have access to video footage from Saturday’s game showing a racist act carried out by a child. It is regrettable that there is nothing to counter this kind of behavior… pic.twitter.com/azlZ7ccPNZ
— Vinicius Jr. (@vinijr) October 21, 2023
Sevilla identifies the offender
Sevilla FC issued a formal statement after the match, reporting that the spectator who made the monkey gestures in the stands was identified, ejected from the stadium, and reported to local police authorities. The club affirmed that it would enforce all internal disciplinary measures and revoke the individual’s membership in the near term.
Vinicius applauded the club for its rapid response to what he described as another despicable act in Spanish football, commending Sevilla for taking decisive action shortly after the event.
Attribution for the coverage notes the report came through a primary sports outlet, with ongoing discussion across leagues about how to address racism in stadiums and on digital platforms. [Goal]