There are times when the opinions of athletes transcend beyond a play or a match and put an institution and even a country in trouble. For better or for worse, whether he is right or wrong, the power granted by his fame makes him sit on a stage full of audience, hence his every word must be measured and he must be aware of the consequences. Vinicius, Real Madrid player, has proposed in an interview to ‘CNN’ that the World Cup in Spain (and also Portugal and Morocco) in 2030 be played in another country if it does not evolve because at present, the footballer considers Spain a country where he can suffer racism.
“Until 2030 we have a great margin for evolution. I hope that Spain can evolve and understand how serious it is to insult a person because of the color of his skin. Because, if things don’t evolve until 2030, I think the World Cup would have to change its location. If the players do not feel comfortable and do not feel confident to play in a country where they can suffer racism, it is very complicated,” the Brazilian explained to the U.S. network.
Regardless of the reasons that lead the striker to make these courageous statements, if he has received the right advice he would know, before uttering this idea, that he is putting the whole of Spain on the spot, including his Real Madrid teammates and even his own club, which is working together with FIFA to make the renovated Santiago Bernabeu the venue for the final of the World Cup. Even with all that may entail – he will surely not be well received by visiting fans in Spain – Vinicius decided to show his position and his truth, which is that he considers Spain a country where he can suffer racism, beyond the insults of some people in the stands. An issue that has permeated in different sectors of Spanish society and has transcended and concerned protagonists outside the world of sport.
AN OPINION SHOULD NOT BE A SENTENCE
A reputed Spanish journalist, Manuel Jabois, an openly recognized Real Madrid supporter (author of the lyrics of the last Real Madrid anthem), reflected on this, pointing out that “many times I have answered that, generally, we were not (racists in Spain); but I cannot really know because I am not black. I have the perception that we are not, but my vision depends on the minutes that, circumstantially, I spend a day with a person of another race, not 24 hours a day with a black person, for example” and invited not to make categorical sentences on issues such as racism, homophobia or male chauvinism if one was not of another race, gay or woman. As Dani Carvajal (Vinicius’ teammate at Madrid) and coach Luis de la Fuente had already done, both of whom considered that Spain is not a racist country.
Vinicius in LaLiga. (Fernando Pidal/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)
Picking up the gauntlet of Jabois, the perception of Vinicius should be based on his daily life in Madrid, not only when he goes out to the field of a rival team and some people (or sectors) of the stands attack him with racist insults. Vinicius assures that nowadays “players do not feel at ease and do not feel confident to play in a country where they can suffer racism”.
Also Vinicius, with his statements, must be aware that, although he has not expressly said that Spain is a racist country – but “a country where they can suffer racism” – all the press, teammates and fans have directly understood that he has pointed out that Spain is a racist country, which is something quite different. Because in what country in the world is anyone guaranteed not to suffer racism? In this case, soccer is the least of it, it is obviously a social issue.
AND LAMINE YAMAL AND NICO WILLIAMS?
All in all, hopefully this brave staging of Vinicius will help to silence insults and unpleasant and out-of-place comments from all the stands, stadiums, homes and streets; and also to reflect on how Spain welcomes people of other races. By the way, the two stars of the Spanish national soccer team are Lamine Yamal (born in Barcelona) and Nico Williams (born in Pamplona), two black players who come from African families who emigrated and settled in Spain.
Lamine Yamal, the Spanish star. (Craig Mercer/Shutterstock)
Vinicius has shown the power of an athlete’s voice and that strength can be turned into something positive by sending the right and proper message. ‘Vini’ is one of the most attractive players of Real Madrid and Spanish LaLiga, but also one of the most criticized outside the Santiago Bernabeu not only for his danger with the ball at his feet, also for gestures, comments to the referee or certain attitudes without the ball… Something that has not pleased on many occasions the Real Madrid board (because of the values that those gestures give off) and that has become the unfortunate perfect excuse for some rival fans to attack him with racist insults.
After all this context, then… Is Spain a racist country? Does Spain deserve not to organize the 2030 World Cup? Will this opinion affect FIFA’s decision?
