Brazilian Rodrygo targeted by racist attacks after defeat against Argentina

Brazilian footballer Rodrygo declared on his social networks on Thursday that he had been the subject of racist acts following the defeat against Argentina (1-0) which occurred two days earlier.

“The racists are still on duty. My social networks have been invaded by insults and nonsense of all kinds”, denounced Rodrygo, Thursday, November 23, in messages published on his Instagram and X (ex-twitter) accounts. Users notably attached banana or monkey emojis to the profile of the 22-year-old athlete, who is considering legal action, according to the Globo Esporte website. [article en brésilien]citing advice from the Real Madrid striker.

“If we don’t do what they want, if we don’t behave the way they think we should, if we wear something that bothers them, if we don’t lower our heads when they attack us, if we don’t we occupy spaces they think are theirs, racists take action with their criminal behavior. Bad luck, we won’t stop”wrote the Real Madrid footballer.

His national team teammates, such as Neymar and Vinicius Jr, who himself is regularly the target of racist attacks in Spain where he plays alongside him at Real Madrid, expressed their solidarity with the Merengue striker: “Your outburst makes them uncomfortable, never stop!”supported “Ney” on Instagram. “We’re not going to stop.”supported Vinicius Jr on his Instagram story.

The CBF condemns racist acts

In a statement, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) condemned “racist acts” and assured that she “will continue to work tirelessly to ban this disease of racism from football.” The president of the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, recalled in the press release that an event against discrimination, entitled “One Skin”, would be organized during the friendly match of the five-time world champions against Spain in March.

“It is a call for reflection on the type of violence that you [Rodrygo] have suffered, that Vinicius undergoes and that all those who, like you, Brazilians or not, players or not, suffer every day on this planet”said Mr. Rodrigues.

During the match against Argentina at MaracanaTuesday, Rodrygo had heated exchanges with the Argentines Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul just before the kick-off of the match, which had been delayed by almost half an hour due to clashes between supporters and police in the stands .