Just days after Vinicius Junior was the victim of a high-profile racial incident against SL Benfica, the Brazilian superstar was once again subjected to deplorable hostility.
Real Madrid suffered a damaging 2-1 La Liga defeat to Osasuna at El Sadar Stadium on Saturday, but the frustrating result was heavily overshadowed by disturbing chants directed at the winger.
Hostile Environment at El Sadar
Throughout the match, the 25-year-old was targeted with heavy whistles and derogatory chants, reports The Athletic.
Sections of the home crowd were heard singing “Vinicius, balon de playa” (beach ball) – mocking his second-place finish for the 2024 Ballon d’Or – alongside shouts of “tonto” (fool).
More concerningly, La Liga has confirmed it is actively investigating video footage that appears to show fans chanting “Vinicius, muerete” (Vinicius, die).
Vinicius Jr. was once again a subject of racial hate. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
This stadium has a troubling history regarding the Real Madrid number seven. In 2023, cameras captured an Osasuna supporter racially abusing Vinicius, though the Pamplona court controversially dismissed the case in 2024 due to an inability to identify the perpetrator.
On the pitch, the Brazilian momentarily silenced the crowd in the 73rd minute. Finishing a brilliant pass from Federico Valverde, he celebrated by pointing to his name and gesturing “I’m here” to the turf.
However, Osasuna claimed all three points after Raul García’s 90th-minute winner added to Ante Budimir’s first-half penalty.
The defeat leaves Alvaro Arbeloa’s side vulnerable at the top of the table. The manager, who substituted Valverde late in the game strictly to prevent injury risks, immediately shifted his focus to Wednesday’s crucial Champions League playoff second leg against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.
“I hope it doesn’t mean anything, because we’re playing for our lives again in four days. A team shows its strength in difficult times. There’s no room for doubts,” Arbeloa stated during his press conference.