Racist insults to a world champion like Marcos Acuña generated immediate repudiation. He went around the world the situation that the defender of Sevilla had to endure during the away win against Getafe, by LaLiga of Spain. And there were not only the Argentine coach of Atlético de Madrid, Diego Simeonebut also the Brazilian forward Vinicius Juniorvictim on countless occasions of the same racial abuse.
The ‘Cholo’ expressed this Sunday that “it depends on the entire society, not on a single person” and they need to “improve everyone” to combat these events in Spanish football, which were also replicated the day before in the duel between Sestao- Rayo Majadahonda, from the promotion.
“It is difficult to continue talking more about the same things we have been talking about for a long time. It depends on everyone, it does not depend on a single person, it depends on the entire society, and obviously we all need to improve”assessed the Argentine coach during the press conference.
He also received the support of Vinicius Junior, who last week broke down to tears in the middle of a press conference when talking about what he has to go through on many of the fields he visits with Real Madrid. It was before the friendly against racism between Brazil and Spain, at the legendary Santiago Bernabéu.
The forward made a publication on his official X account (formerly Twitter), where he usually reflects on the various acts of racism that occur in Spanish football stadiums.
“This weekend, I won’t even play. But we had three despicable cases of racism in Spain this Saturday alone. All my support to Acuña @AcunaMarcos17 and coach Quique Flores, of @SevillaFC. To Sarr and @RMajadahonda, may their bravery inspire to others. The racists must be exposed and the games cannot continue with them in the stands. We will only have victory when the racists leave the stadiums straight to jail, a place they deserve,” the Brazilian wrote.
This weekend, I won’t even play. But we had three despicable cases of racism in Spain this Saturday alone.
All my support for Acuña @AcunaMarcos17 and coach Quique Flores, of the @SevillaFC . To Sarr and @RMajadahonda May your bravery inspire others. The racists…
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) March 30, 2024
What happened to Marcos Acuña in Spain?
Although Sevilla won 1-0, Sergio Ramos’ goal was left aside due to the injury suffered by the winger-midfielder, which forced the referee to suspend the match for several seconds and provoked a strong reaction from the former Real Madrid.
Quique Sánchez Flores’ speech after the racist episode in Getafe – Sevilla against him and Acuña.
💬 “Proud of every pore of my veins that I can breathe gypsy.”
💬 “It seems aberrant to me.”
👏 Chapo. pic.twitter.com/nAQVXtMIeR
— Relief (@relevo) March 30, 2024
At 15 minutes into the second, the Egg approached to speak to Javier Iglesias Villanueva and one of the assistants and the protocol corresponding to these cases was automatically activated. The whistle blew, the actions stopped and the voice of the stadium warned about the situation. According to the protagonists themselves, a group of local fans called Acuña “monkey” repeatedly, which forced the former Ferro and Racing player to report on this new episode of racism.
Although the match was completed and Quique Sánchez Flores’ team added three fundamental points in their fight to escape the relegation zone, there was nothing to celebrate and Ramos was the first to repudiate what happened to his teammate. “We have been demanding, within football, respect, that people do not come to free themselves and say nonsense. We have to point them out and prohibit their entry, this should be a sport to unite, not to separate. They do not belong in football stadiums,” express.
✋🛑 In sport there is no place for racist or hateful acts.
LALIGA firmly condemns any gesture of racism and will continue working to eradicate these intolerable behaviors from our sport. #LALIGAVSRacismo pic.twitter.com/YRpe4Xpgnb— LALIGA Corporate (@LaLigaCorp) March 30, 2024
In addition, Djené, captain of Getafe, expressed his solidarity with Acuña and added that “if chants have been heard, we must stop because that cannot be done,” while coach Bordalás was forceful in remarking that “we are against any racist insult.” “.
In a matter of minutes, different messages were added: Sevilla’s official account condemned the xenophobic insults and, in addition to Acuña, included the coaching staff as victims. In turn, La Liga announced that it “firmly condemns any gesture of racism and will continue working until these intolerable behaviors are eradicated from our sport.”
Although Acuña avoided referring to the issue and after the match he posted: “Great win, let’s go Sevilla” with images of the match, the referee’s report reflects the seriousness of the situation: in the same report it appears that in the 68th minute he had to stop the match due to Racist insults on the number 19 of the visiting team such as “Acuña mono” and “Acuña you come from the monkey” from “fans located in the central area of the field behind the position of my assistant referee No. 2.”
Finally, it clarifies that said incident “was announced over the public address system” and the game was not resumed until that moment “two and a half minutes later” and “it did not occur on any other occasion during the match.”