Valencia (EFE) football player at the post-match press conference.
“I spoke to him during the game, the atmosphere was very hot, very bad, I asked him if he wanted to continue playing because the atmosphere was racist, it doesn’t seem right to me. I have never thought about removing a player for racism. It’s never happened to me, not like that. The Spanish League has a problem, which is not Vinícus, ”he said after the game.
Ancelotti expressed that “I’m not the best person to think about what has to be done, but you can’t play football like that. I would say the same as if we had won, we have not played well, it is difficult to find motivation. This is too serious, they throw a ball in attack time, they insult Vinícius all the time and then they show him a red card”.
“I am very sad, we must end this because we are in 2023, racism should not exist. Now it is true that there is a protocol, the referee has explained that first you have to notify people and if they do it again, go home ”, he added.
“For me the solution is to stop the game”
In addition, Ancelotti said that “although there are many complaints of anti-violence, nothing has happened. For me the solution is to stop the game, it is clear, this cannot continue. He is the player who receives the most fouls and the most insults. The referee has said that he had to continue, because if it happens again the protocol would continue ”.
“The stadium yelled at him ‘monkey, monkey’ (there are journalists who have clarified that they were yelling ‘stupid’). He is a child, he likes to play soccer, he wanted to continue, but in this situation it is very complicated. He has tried to free himself from an attack and is expelled. Our fans cannot enjoy him in the next game. We are all with him, but we are sad. I’m not angry, I’m sad, ”he continued.
Lastly, the Real Madrid coach said that “all youngsters have to improve (their attitudes), but we have to take into account that when an entire stadium insults you, the players are not capable of being cold. The club supports him in everything ”, he concluded.
Baraja: “The club will investigate if there are insults, but there are derogatory gestures that hurt”
The Valencia coach, Rubén Baraja, said that the Valencian club is going to investigate whether there have been insults towards Vinicius Jr., but he also pointed out that it “hurts” them that they “make a gesture from the Second Division, it is also condemnable.”
“Valencia condemns any racist insult and we are a model fans. If you ask for respect towards the Real Madrid players, you also have to ask for respect towards our fans, because you are encouraging the problem not to be solved. I am convinced that he is a great player, and he will apologize because it has not been adequate and we as a club also apologize if he has felt offended”, said Baraja.
The Valencian coach stated: “We are a football club and a lady hobby. We ask for respect for our fans. It seems to me that this is not the time for the Valencia fans to be judged as racist.
“After what happened in the game, with emotions there are things that can be said that do not conform to reality. Valencia condemns any racist insult and we are a model fans. There were 46,000 people who behaved correctly cheering and pushing. We are a senior club, centenary, our fans are exemplary. Valencianism has always behaved exquisitely ”, he concluded.
