Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior has urged that Spain be stripped of its 2030 World Cup hosting duties unless significant progress is made in addressing racism in stadiums.
In an interview aired on CNN Tuesday, the Real Madrid forward, who has faced repeated racist abuse from opponents’ fans during La Liga matches, emphasized the need for societal change in Spain.
“Until 2030, there is a lot of room for improvement, so I hope that Spain can evolve and understand how serious it is to insult someone because of the colour of their skin,” the 24-year-old stated.
Vinicius expressed concern that if conditions do not improve by 2030, Spain should lose the right to host the tournament. He highlighted the difficulty for players to feel comfortable and secure in a country where racial abuse persists.
The comments have sparked controversy in Spain, which is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Morocco, with additional matches scheduled for Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Spain’s national team coach Luis de la Fuente and Vinicius’s Real Madrid teammate Dani Carvajal both responded to the remarks. Carvajal defended Spain, stating, “Spain is in no way a racist country,” and adding that Spain “does not deserve to be deprived of the World Cup.” He acknowledged the progress being made in La Liga, including the implementation of new protocols to address racial abuse.
De la Fuente supported Carvajal’s stance, asserting that despite the presence of some individuals with undesirable views, Spain is a model of coexistence and integration.
Madrid’s conservative mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida criticized Vinicius’s comments as “deeply unfair” and called for an apology.
In June, a Spanish court sentenced three Valencia fans to eight-month jail terms for racist abuse directed at Vinicius during a La Liga match, marking Spain’s first such conviction. Additionally, in July, another individual received an eight-month suspended jail term for online racist abuse aimed at Vinicius and his German Real Madrid teammate Antonio Rudiger.
