Real Madrid won Rayo Vallecano 2-1 in LaLiga on Wednesday as fans and players showed their support for Vinicius Junior, who was subjected to racial abuse again over the weekend.
Real Madrid players all wore shirts bearing Vinicius’ No. 20 while the captains of both teams wore armbands carrying anti-racism messages, in solidarity with him. A banner with the inscription “We are all Vinicius. Enough is enough” was also sighted at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Many Madrid fans also came to the stadium wearing the Brazilian’s shirt and scarves, sending a clear message that they are unhappy about the abuse he is suffering in stadiums around Spain.
Real’s Karim Benzema scored the first goal when he latched on to a pass on the edge of the box and scored from close range before Rayo’s striker Raul de Tomas equalized six minutes from full time. Rodrygo, however, restored Madrid’s lead just before the match ended.
Vinicius wearing mufti, joined his teammates on the pitch for a standing ovation after all the players posed next to an official LaLiga banner “Racists, out of football.” He did not play in the match despite the red card he received was overturned on Tuesday and the subsequent suspension lifted.
According to Spanish authorities, a knee issue made him miss training before the match and he watched the game sitting next to club president Florentino Perez.
“I was surprised by the decision of the [RFEF’s] competition committee,” coach Carlo Ancelotti told a press conference. “I think it is the right decision.”
He added that the partial stand closure imposed on Valencia as a punishment was an important step forward.
“Hopefully this issue will be solved soon,” Ancelotti said. “The players around Vinicius feel very affected. Everyone is realizing what’s happening. Our society is full of intelligent people, above all in Spain.
“When intelligent people take decisions, things get solved sooner.”