When will racism end in football?

Football is a universal language. Yet today it seems powerless to protect one of its brightest stars, Vinicius Junior, from racist abuse.

Sport’s oldest disgrace

Since his arrival at Real Madrid in 2018, he has been subjected to relentless racist chants and abuse, both in Spain and abroad. This raises an embarrassing question for football itself. Why does one player remain a constant target of discrimination based on skin colour?

The latest incident occurred during the first leg of the Champions League playoff between Real Madrid and Benfica in Lisbon. The match ended in a 1-0 victory for Real Madrid thanks to a goal by Vinicius.

However, the sporting result was overshadowed by a shocking incident – racist abuse directed at the Brazilian player by Argentinian Gianluca Brestiani. French referee François Letissier halted the match for ten minutes to investigate. Meanwhile, Portuguese coach José Mourinho intervened to defuse the situation. In addition, football authorities looked on.

Racism on the pitch

The attacks did not stop there. After his goal, Vinicius was subjected to further racist chants and had bottles thrown at him by some fans, marking another dark moment for football.

The European Union opened a formal investigation, and Prisciani was provisionally suspended for one match pending a final decision. Furthermore, the penalty could be increased to several matches. This would be similar to the 2021 incident between Ondré Kodéla and Glenn Camara. That case resulted in lengthy suspensions.

It is noteworthy that Real Madrid boasts other Black stars such as Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Antonio Rüdiger, Kylian Mbappé, and David Alaba.

Yet Vinicius remains the most targeted. Is it his flamboyant style and unrivalled dribbling skills that irk his opponents? Or his celebrations, which combine dancing and gestures of silence in front of the fans? The problem is worryingly far deeper. It is rooted in a stadium culture that tolerates racist abuse across football clubs.

Calls for stricter penalties

In 2023, Rio de Janeiro state authorities attempted to send a powerful symbolic message by naming an anti-racism law in stadiums after the player. But symbolism alone is not enough for the football community.

The demand today is clear. Football fans are urging FIFA and UEFA to implement strict penalties, including hefty fines, point deductions for clubs, fan bans, lengthy suspensions, and potentially match cancellations for repeated offences.

Additionally, they must establish rigorous protocols for referees to immediately stop any racist abuse and reinforce football’s integrity at every opportunity.

Sticking points

Racism in stadiums is not just fleeting chants. It threatens the very essence of football, which is built on fair competition, equality, and mutual respect.

The Vinicius case today transcends a single player; it is a true test of the football system’s ability to protect its core values. Either stadiums become spaces of justice and respect, or they become a mirror reflecting the worst aspects of society.

With all these recurring incidents, the question always remains: When will racism in football finally end?

Featured image via the Canary