Vinicius does not back down, Real Madrid remains silent and Spain defends itself

Vinicius' words accusing Spain of being a racist country have caused a lot of damage, so much so that representatives from all walks of life are publicly showing their enormous displeasure and demanding a rectification from the Real Madrid player.

Politicians, colleagues, journalists... everyone, absolutely everyone, has not only expressed their absolute respect for the player's message about the fight and zero tolerance against racism, but has also made it clear that they share it.

At the same time, no one understands or accepts such serious accusations against an entire country, generalising unfairly, lacking the truth and damaging Spain's image around the world. And it is also surprising, and very much so, that after the uproar caused, Real Madrid is still silent and has not spoken out about it. Does it have nothing to say in the face of such serious events?

Finally, and to top it all off, the Brazilian player went so far as to ask that Spain not be able to host the 2030 World Cup if it did not improve the issue of racism in stadiums…

These are Vinicius' statements

We have a lot of room for change until 2030. I hope that Spain can evolve and understand how serious it is to insult a person because of the colour of their skin, because if things have not changed [in Spain] by 2030, I think we should change the venue for the World Cup, because if a player does not feel comfortable or safe playing in a country where he may suffer racism, then everything becomes very complicated.

And these are the reactions to his words

The Spanish government has reacted by means of the minister of Interior, Fernando Big-Marlaska, the one who has denied that the Spanish society was racist:

• "The only that I have to say is that our country is a country where the respect to the diversity forms part of our DNA and, therefore, our effective and direct fight against all discriminatory behaviour"

The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, went even more critical and even demanded a rectification of the player:

I hope that he will immediately rectify these statements. We are all aware that there are racist episodes in society and that we have to work very hard to eliminate them. But it is very unfair to Spain and particularly to Madrid to say that we are a racist society, and that it also endangers the holding of the World Cup in Spain (...) We cannot stand by him when he calls practically the entire Spanish society racist. I cannot accept that.

Criticisms also from the Spanish Federation of Football. The seleccionador Luis de la Fuente, also denied the criticisms of racism:

• "Spain is not racist, are an example and a mirror where all the world would owe to look like tolerance, respect, integration.... Always we can improve and we report any racist act, but Spain is not racist. The lack of respect is intolerable. They do not represent to Spain. We are a world-wide example. You do not have more than seeing the history of Spain, by here have happened 50.000 civilisations; to us they go us to give lessons?"

Dani Carvajal, mate of Vinícius in the Real Madrid and player of the Spanish selection also pronounced in this regard:

• "Further of this small group of people that it would be necessary to eradicate of the football, do not think that Spain do not deserve the world-wide. The cultural diversity is very high in our country, Spain for nothing is a racist country"

The sportive journalism has been perhaps the hardest with the words of the player. Josep Pedrerol began the program of The Chiringuito speaking of the statements of Vinicius and his words say it everything:

• "Better me callus"

Eduardo Inda, director of OK Daily, also gave his opinion in The Chiringuito:

• "The quilombo is planetary. The CNN is the most seen chain all over the world. It is a wrap tremendo. Vinicius Makes a mistake because it can not generalise. I think that the statements are so conclusive that any rectification is a ridiculous for Vinicius. Somebody has to read him the cartilla"

Manu Carreño, director of The Crossbar, analysed the sucedido and gave his personal opinion:

"I do not know who advises to Vinicius. I do not know who says him that it has to champion this fight against the racism saying things that does not have to see with the fight against the racism like signalling to a country as ours until the point to put in doubt that a world-wide have to contest here by these episodes of racism"

And Paco González, director of Time of Game also shared his opinion:

• "I support him in all what was fight against the racism, less in that it export of Spain an image that marks us to world-wide level. If you say 'they are not to organise a World-wide right now', the same the interview have read it 100 people, but the one who have read it in Norway, Los Angeles... What will think of Spain. Here it is impossible to give him the reason and here would have to rectify. You can not mark the image of Spain"

Kiko Narváez, exfutbolista of the Athletic of Madrid signalled to Vinicius and posed the possibility that perhaps it was in the focus of the criticisms by his attitude:

• "I do not know to Tchouameni, if I speak with him, or to Rodrygo, or if I speak with Camavinga or Rüdiger, do not know the perception that have they. But to the hour to generalise, speak of a racism..."

The exfutbolista Brazilian Donato also criticised the words of the player of the Real Madrid on the future of the World-wide 2030

"I do not know what has happened in his life, but these statements are very strong. Why it does not happen this with other players of his team? It is a penalty that say that Spain is racist, has to ask pardon"