On Saturday, Vinicius Junior found the back of the net, yet his efforts could not prevent Real Madrid from succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against Osasuna in a La Liga fixture held at the El Sadar stadium. This encounter marked the first appearance of both the royal club and their Brazilian star since the recent allegations of racial abuse directed at Vinicius by Benfica player Gianluca Prestiani during their Champions League clash the previous Tuesday.
Vinicius registered Real Madrid’s sole goal in the 73rd minute, responding with a distinctive celebration: he pointed emphatically to the name emblazoned on his jersey and gestured to the ground as if to declare, “I am here.”
Hostile Reception and La Liga’s Response
Despite his contribution on the pitch, Vinicius endured audible jeers from the Osasuna supporters throughout the match. Among the chants echoing through El Sadar were derisive slogans such as “Vinicius, balon de playa”, translated to “Vinicius, beach ball,” an apparent jab alluding to his loss in the 2024 Ballon d’Or race. Additionally, some fans resorted to calling him “tonto”, meaning “fool” in Spanish, further amplifying the hostile atmosphere.
According to a report by The Athletic, the governing body of La Liga has now initiated an official inquiry into the hateful chants directed at Vinicius during the game at El Sadar. This investigation is part of the league’s ongoing efforts to address incidents of discrimination and uphold sportsmanship within Spanish football.