- ABC News
- May 23, 2023
Seven people have been arrested in connection with two separate racist incidents involving Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, Spanish police said Tuesday. Three of the arrests were related to racist abuse aimed at Vinicius during Madrid's LaLiga defeat to Valencia at Mestalla on Sunday. Four arrests in Madrid involve the hanging of a mannequin wearing a Vinicius shirt from a bridge near Real Madrid's training ground in January. The abuse suffered by Vinicius at Mestalla has sparked a global outcry, especially in Brazil, where politicians, including President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, players and clubs have come out in support of the player, criticising the handling of racism in Spanish football. Sunday's game stopped for almost 10 minutes when Vinicius identified a Valencia fan behind the goal as having racially abused him, while videos on social media showed fans abusing the Brazil international before and during the...