Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have apparently evaded punishment from UEFA for the chants directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior during recent Champions League matches. Despite Vinicius’s plea for action following incidents of racist abuse by fans during their last 16 home games against Inter Milan and Napoli, UEFA’s latest disciplinary update did not reprimand either club for these incidents. The only action taken was a £4,289 (€5,000) fine to Atletico for a pitch invasion. This has raised concerns about UEFA’s commitment to tackling racism, as the governing body has not commented on the omission of punishment or the status of any ongoing investigation.
While UEFA has the authority to investigate incidents around stadium precincts and consider reports from various sources, including social media and match delegates, Vinicius directly challenged UEFA on social media, expressing his hope for a punishment. Real Madrid took a decisive step by lodging a formal complaint with Spanish legal authorities against the racist insults directed at their player. Vinicius has openly expressed the emotional toll of the abuse during a press conference, reflecting his frustration at the lack of consequences for those responsible. Despite feeling disheartened, Vinicius has vowed to persevere and continue fighting against racism.
His team-mate, Jude Bellingham, echoed the concerns and called for stronger action against racism in football. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has announced plans for a “strong resolution” to combat racism at the upcoming FIFA Congress in Bangkok on May 17. The chants and abuse directed at Vinicius Junior highlight the ongoing issue of racism in football and the need for stronger measures to address it.