Vinícius Júnior became very emotional on Monday while discussing the racist abuse he has faced in Spain. He expressed that these experiences are making him lose his motivation to continue playing soccer.
Vinícius openly shared his struggles with racism ahead of the “One Skin” friendly match between Spain and Brazil, aimed at raising awareness about racism. This comes almost a year after Vinícius was racially abused during a Spanish league game in Valencia.
“It’s really sad what I’m going through here,” Vinícius said. “It’s been tough. I’ve been fighting against this for a long time, and it’s exhausting because it feels like I’m alone. I’ve filed many complaints, but no one has been punished.”
Despite facing new instances of racism recently, Vinícius expressed his determination to keep fighting against it, even though it’s causing him to lose interest in playing soccer.
During Brazil’s pre-match press conference, Vinícius had to pause a few times to compose himself after breaking down in tears. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I just want to keep playing soccer and doing my best for my club and family.”
While Vinícius admitted that quitting would be easier, he emphasized that he feels a responsibility to stand up against racism. He asserted that he wouldn’t leave the Spanish league because that would be giving in to the racists.
Despite facing challenges, Vinícius feels supported by other players in the Spanish league and believes Spain is not inherently racist. However, he acknowledges the presence of racism in stadiums and believes it needs to change.
Vinícius expressed a desire for people to focus less on his mistakes on the field and more on the racism he faces. He has also sought assistance from FIFA, UEFA, and other organizations in his fight against racism and has been educating himself extensively on the subject.
