'I'm not going to stop' - Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior hits back at racist abuse and vows to keep dancing
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Updated 17/09/2022 at 09:50 GMT+1
Vinicius Junior has vowed to keep celebrating his goals by dancing 'to celebrate the cultural diversity of the world' after issuing a response to racist remarks made against him. Spanish agent Pedro Bravo said that the winger should 'stop playing the monkey’, sparking a backlash that has seen the likes of Pele and Neymar throw their support behind their fellow Brazilian.
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Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior says he will continue celebrating his goals by dancing and accused his critics of being upset by ‘the happiness of a victorious black Brazilian in Europe’ in response to racist comments made by a Spanish football agent.
Pedro Bravo, the president of the Spanish agents’ association, was asked about Vinicius’ celebrations on Spanish television on Thursday, and said Vinicius ‘has to respect (his) mates and stop playing the monkey’.
The comments sparked a backlash against Bravo and a flood of support for Vinicius from Brazilian football greats like Pele and Neymar.
“They say happiness is annoying. The happiness of a victorious black Brazilian in Europe bothers much more,” Vinicius wrote on Instagram.
“But my desire to win, my smile and the twinkle in my eyes are much bigger than that. You can't even imagine.
“I was a victim of xenophobia and racism in one statement. But none of that started yesterday. Weeks ago, they started criminalising my dancing.
“Dances that are not mine. They belong to Ronaldinho, Neymar, (Lucas) Paqueta, (Antoine) Griezmann, João Felix, Matheus Cunha... Brazilian funk and samba artists, reggaeton singers, and black Americans.
“They are dances to celebrate the cultural diversity of the world. Accept it, respect it. I’m not going to stop.”
Bravo has since apologised for his comments, saying he used the expression ‘metaphorically’ as a way of expressing that Vinicius was ‘doing stupid things’.
“I always try to be a professional and an exemplary citizen. But that doesn’t click, doesn’t trend on the internet, or motivates cowards to aggressively talk about people they don’t even know,” Vinicius added.
“The script always ends with an apology and a ‘I was misunderstood.’ But I repeat it to you racist: I will not stop dancing.”
The 22-year-old, who won the Champions League and La Liga double with Real Madrid last season, was defended by his club.
“Real Madrid condemns all types of racist and xenophobic language and behaviour in football, sport and life in general, such as the regrettable and unfortunate comments made against our player Vinicius Junior in the last few hours,” read a club statement.
“Real Madrid would like to express its affection and support for Vinicius Junior, a player who regards football as an attitude towards life through joy, respect and sportsmanship.
“Football is the most global sport there is and should be a model of values and coexistence. The club has directed its legal services to take legal action against anyone who makes racist remarks towards our players.”
Pele, widely regarded as the greatest Brazilian footballer of all time, posted on Twitter: “Football is joy. It is dancing. It is truly a party.”
“Despite the fact that racism still exists, we will not allow it to stop us from continuing to smile. And we will continue to fight racism in this way, fighting for the right to be happy.”
Neymar took to Instagram to tell Vinicius to ‘dribble, dance and be you', while Newcastle’s Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes said of Bravo: “This moron needs to leave this place arrested! No excuses. If a guy says this on live TV, just imagine what he says when he’s not. Inconceivable if this guy is not jailed.”
Real Madrid face city rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga.
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