Sports
The initial match of the Copa Del Rey semifinal between Real sociedad adn Real madrid was temporarily halted due to fans harassing players from Real madrid. A spectator could be seen making a monkey gesture towards Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior, who has faced racist abuse multiple times throughout his career in Spain. This match marked Vini Jr.’s debut as captain of the team.
There were also alleged chants of “Asencio die” directed at young Raul asencio, with ESPN reporting that this was the reason for the gameS interruption. The match was paused by Spanish referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez,who invoked la Liga’s racism protocol in the final moments of the first half.
Stadium officials then cautioned fans that if the chanting did not cease,the game would be suspended or even abandoned. This protocol is rarely implemented in La Liga despite being part of their regulations; however, such interruptions are common occurrences in Concacaf as part of their anti-discrimination policies.
This is far from the first instance where Vinicius Junior has been subjected to racial abuse by fans, with one notable incident occurring during an away trip to Valencia’s Estadio Mestalla. That incident resulted in fines for Valencia and three individuals being arrested for their involvement in abusing the Brazilian forward. Members of Atletico Madrid’s ultras were also apprehended in 2023 for hanging a mannequin dressed in Vini Jr.’s jersey from a bridge with a sign stating, “Madrid hates Real.”
The Blancos went on to win this first leg of the Copa Del Rey semifinal 1-0 thanks to an impressive performance from Endrick; however, only time will reveal if further consequences arise from this interruption. After the game, Vini Jr. expressed himself on social media by sharing a photo from the match along with a caption that stated, “Living unforgettable moments with my dream club!”
