Real Madrid forward Vinicius tearfully accused racism

Real Madrid forward Vinicius tearfully accused racism of severely impacting his passion for football during a pre-match press conference ahead of a friendly between Brazil and Spain.

Why do you think you’ve been subjected to such harsh criticism?
It's a rather tragic situation, happening in every match, every day. Each time I raise a complaint, it saddens me deeply, but like all "black" people in the world... it's a tragedy. The support I've received has been immense; many teammates have helped me... We're working hard to stop this situation in Spain and elsewhere in the world. I persevere in this fight, and the support from teammates and organizations is crucial for personal growth. My family and I have experienced racial discrimination multiple times, and I want to change this so that every time I come to a press conference, you won't ask me about this topic anymore.

Real Madrid has been talking about racism all along; I must improve my performance on the field. I'm only 23 years old; it's a gradual process... When I left Brazil, I was very young, and there were things I hadn't learned yet. I've been seeing this situation (racism) for a long time now, and I'm getting sadder and less willing to play football.

The strength to fight against racism comes from where?
Thanks to everyone who has accompanied me, sent supportive messages... All of this sustains me to continue the fight. Today, I've gained immense strength from myself, my family, and others... I'm proud to be here to speak for so many people, to speak for all those who have suffered from this pain... It's really tough.

What disappoints you the most about racism in Spain compared to racism in Brazil?
The fact that wrongdoers are not punished, which makes me sad. Why have I filed so many complaints without any results? We must strive to eradicate this phenomenon... It's a process... In Barcelona, a case was dismissed; if the perpetrators were punished, it would have a significant impact, and people wouldn't speak like this anymore. We can also educate the next generation in a better way.

Have you ever considered leaving La Liga?
I've thought for a long time whether I should leave here... But if I leave, it would fulfill the wishes of racists, so I want to stay here, at the best club in the world, to continue showing my face to them. For this, I keep improving, hoping to bring joy to all those who come to watch the games. Racists are a minority, and such incidents don't happen often, but I have the courage because I'm a Real Madrid player. It's very difficult, but I will continue to strive because the president supports me, the club supports me.

Changes in racism past and present I firmly believe that Spain is not a racist country, but many racists go to the stadiums, and this must change. Perhaps many people don't know what racism is, and at 23, I have to explain what racism is and how it affects me... I used to think racism wasn't so common, but with my complaints, the problem has worsened. Because these people haven't been punished, they feel they can do as they please, and their judgments based on my skin color affect my performance on the field. I just want to play well and know that people won't judge me based on my skin color when I play in various stadiums in Spain.

Appeal against racism We can unite, and things can change; all black people know that because we're black, we have to work twice as hard. Equality is best for everyone, and efforts against racism are not enough; few people know what we black people have been through.