Vinicius will not participate for the remainder of the season. LaLiga may view this with relief, hoping for calmer times. Yet the question remains: what unfolded at Mestalla between Valencia and Real Madrid? Beyond the measured statements from everyone involved, this confrontation should become a milestone in the fight against racism. Regardless of Vinicius’s actions during the game, including his interaction with the referee, a penalty appeal that went unrealized, a red card, and the hostile gestures from portions of the Mestalla crowd, the core issue endures: repeated racial slurs directed at the Real Madrid forward on multiple occasions.
Ancelotti: “La Liga has a serious problem. They need to stop the games”
Carlo Ancelotti spoke plainly about the events: “If a player is booed with monkey chants and a coach is asked to consider stopping the match, something is wrong with the league. The league has a problem. It is necessary to halt the game when racism appears. An entire stadium was shouting monkey chants, and the game should be paused. I told the opening, there is something wrong with LaLiga. These racist incidents must stop and stop immediately the match. It wasn’t just a single fan, it was a stadium-wide issue. The referee said we must report it per protocol, but the proper action would have been to suspend play. From the first minute the insults were constant. Vinicius’s reaction in the face of a stadium full of slurs is understandable. I wonder what consequences Mestalla will face. The situation is serious. I don’t want to discuss football here.”
Thibaut Courtois also voiced support for his teammate and condemned the racist chants, confirming what he heard: “One day you should install a camera that focuses on those individuals because you can hear the brutality. They shouted and made all the gestures. Football has shifted from celebration to going to the stadium to insult. This is a problem. If Vinicius had decided not to continue playing, I would have stood with him. The match intensified, and Hugo Duro was the first to see red, grabbing Vinicius by the neck. Vinicius’s response was to push him away with his hand. The referee’s red card decision could be justified, but the first red should have gone to Hugo Duro.”
Valencia’s Justin Kluivert added his view: “We cannot and must not tolerate this. I apologize on behalf of myself and my team. This cannot happen in stadiums and could affect any of us. We must stop.”
Vinicius’s message: “Spain is a racist country”
The Brazilian superstar, who paused to take a photo and sign autographs after leaving the field, detailed his experience on social media. “The prize for racists is my expulsion. This isn’t football, it’s La Liga,” he wrote. He then delivered a stronger statement across his networks: “It wasn’t the first, it wasn’t the second, and it wasn’t the third either. Racism is seen as normal in this league. Opponents treat it as acceptable, so the federation and rivals applaud. I am deeply saddened. A competition once led by icons like Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano, and Messi now belongs to racists. A country that welcomed me with warmth now seems to export a racist image to the world. Sorry to those who disagree, but today Brazil and Spain are known for this issue. I stand firm and will fight racism all the way, even from far away.”
The footage captured insults such as “Monkey” and gestures imitating a primate, accompanied by chants of “stupid” and “evil.” LaLiga lodged nine formal complaints tied to Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward.
Message from Valencia
Valencia CF issued a statement condemning any insult, attack, or disqualification in football. The club reaffirmed its commitment to respect and sporting values, condemning physical and verbal violence in stadiums and regretting the events involving Real Madrid on the 35th LaLiga matchday. The club stated that insulting an opponent’s player has no place in football and contradicts Valencia CF’s identity. An investigation is underway, and firm steps will be taken. Valencia CF also thanked the more than 46,000 supporters for their support during the May 21 match and emphasized the importance of respect from all fans.