“Ancelotti was wrong to call the fans racist" - Valencia spokesperson makes incredible claim on Real Madrid boss after Vinicius Jr incident
In the aftermath of a contentious game, the simmering tension between Valencia and Real Madrid took a new turn, as racist chants were hurled at Vinicius Jr. Speaking for Valencia, Javier Solis openly voiced his discontent with Carlo Ancelotti's damning accusations.
The Madrid manager had publicly decried Mestalla's stadium for allegedly directing racially charged chants towards his player. However, The Italian's statement did not sit well with Valencia.
Ancelotti, quite disturbed by the situation, spoke to Movistar TV, expressing his concerns. He said (via The Madrid Zone):
“I don’t want to speak about football today, but about what happened. That is more important, than a defeat. What happened today cannot happen, that is pretty obvious. It's not a person who yells 'm*nkey', it's the stadium that insults a player for racism."
| Javier Solís, spokesman for Valencia: “Ancelotti was wrong to call the fans in Mestalla racist. His words are the result of a translation error. We absolutely DISAGREE.”
🚨| Javier Solís, spokesman for Valencia: “Ancelotti was wrong to call the fans in Mestalla racist. His words are the result of a translation error. We absolutely DISAGREE.” https://t.co/aJ3pPpsonP
Yet, Valencia's official representative, Solis, swiftly countered the Real Madrid manager's assertion. The spokesperson stated (via MadridZone and PlazaDeportiva):
"Ancelotti was wrong to call the fans in Mestalla racist. His words are the result of a translation error. We absolutely disagree. Possibly it is the result of an error in the language, you will have understood another word. He must apologize, in the same way that we condemn racist insults."
Solis further censured Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr.'s behavior, arguing it was disrespectful. He added (via PlazaDeportiva):
"I understand that they will tell Vinicius that he cannot behave like this or reproduce those gestures. I found it unpleasant, a player cannot send an entire stadium to the Second Division without being condemned."
Taking a decisive stance, Valencia promised to uphold its regulations with sternness. Solis revealed that they were in the process of identifying the culprits using visual aids.
🗣️ Carlo Ancelotti: “It's not a person who yells 'm*nkey', it's the stadium that insults a player for racism.” @MovistarFutbol https://t.co/k4XiGNPKL2
In a formal statement released later, the club was careful to point out that any racist incident was an aberration. They thanked their fans for their relentless support, saying (via The Athletic):
"Whilst strongly denouncing these isolated incidents, Valencia CF would like to thank the more than 46,000 fans in attendance for their support for the team.”
This incident highlights the continuing challenge football faces in eradicating racism, an issue that demands undivided attention and uncompromising action from all stakeholders.
La Liga steps in, promises investigation into racist chants against Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr
La Liga, Spanish football's top governing body, has vowed to step into the escalating events that occurred in the match between Valencia and Real Madrid. They have also promised a thorough investigation into the alleged racial slurs cast at Vinicius Jr. during the game held at Mestalla Stadium.
In a decisive statement, La Liga said (via The Athletic):
“In view of the incidents that occurred during the Valencia CF – Real Madrid CF match at the Mestalla Stadium, La Liga informs that it has requested all available images to investigate what happened. Once the investigation has been completed, if any hate crime is detected, La Liga will proceed to take the appropriate legal action."
The authorities have also extended the scope of their probe to include alleged racial slurs aimed at Vinicius Jr outside the Mestalla stadium. They have displayed their commitment to combating such incidents by filing complaints on nine occasions over the past two seasons.
This latest incident adds to the list of contentious issues that have been pitted against Vinicius Jr, who has been at the consistent end of racist chants. The unfolding saga highlights the ongoing battle against racism in football.