Vinicius Junior ignites debate on racism as Madrid mayor responds
Vinicius Junior once again shared a stern opinion about racism in Spanish stadiums. Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, the mayor of Madrid, seems to have had enough of the Brazilian's opinions and decided to respond to the words of the Real Madrid player.
Spain will be one of the host countries for the World Cup in 2030. Matches will also be played in stadiums in Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
American news network CNN asked Vinicius Junior, who represents Brazil and also plays for Real Madrid, what he thinks about organizing the World Cup in Spain. The player has repeatedly criticized racist behaviour in Spanish stadiums in the past. He referred to it again this time.
I hope Spain will change and understand how serious the problem of insulting someone because of their skin colour is. If things do not improve by 2030, I think the World Cup should be held somewhere else, because players may not feel comfortable or safe enough to play in a country where they may suffer from racism, said Vinicius Junior.
Many Spaniards may not have appreciated another statement critical of their country. The mayor of Madrid also decided to speak out and respond to the words of one of the city's most famous residents.
We are aware that there are racist situations in society and that we must work hard to end them. However, it is unfair to Spain and Madrid when someone says that his community is racist, said Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida.
The coach of the Spanish national team expressed himself in a similar tone. European champions' coach, Luis de la Fuente, warned against generalizing based on scandalous incidents.
