Racism permeates society and shows out in sports

Vinicius Junior, the Brazilian forward of Real Madrid, responded to instances of racist abuse from fans by gesturing towards the stands during a La Liga match against Valencia CF held at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia.

On a typical Sunday evening, I took a seat with the aim of catching up on the latest La Liga matches. During the match between Real Madrid and Valencia, which took place at the latter's home ground, Vinicius Jr was subjected to racist abuse by the home team's supporters, an unfortunate incident that may have gone unnoticed by those unfamiliar with the game.

Video evidence indicates that the spectators, despite the arrival of the Real Madrid bus at the venue, engaged in a series of derogatory actions, including verbal utterances of "mono" (referring to "monkey") and simulating primate vocalizations. During the course of the match, an incessant chorus of derogatory jeers were aimed towards a player from Madrid, specifically in the form of chanting the term "monkey".

In due course, Vinicius Jr reached a point of saturation. The match was halted, and Vini made his way towards the spectators situated behind the goal, indicating towards individuals who were engaging in racial vilification towards him. The two team-mates, Lucas Vazquez and Thibaut Courtois, demonstrating physical characteristics consistent with Caucasians, endeavored to direct the attention of spectators, safeguard their team member, and advise the official to intervene.

In Spain, the established procedure entails notifying the referee, followed by issuing an announcement requesting the cessation of fan misconduct. If this appeal proves ineffectual, the teams are authorized to withdraw from the game, and ultimately, the match will be abandoned. There is an abundance of discourse on the subject of the protocol, with a significant number of individuals asserting that it places the burden of reporting instances of racist abuse upon the targeted individual.

An additional standpoint is that departing from the playing field due to racial abuse would grant victory to the perpetrators of racism. However, I am unable to comprehend this perspective. Undoubtedly, the removal of the object of adoration from the aforementioned fans as a consequence of their lack of enlightenment and discriminatory attitudes result in a loss for these self-proclaimed enthusiasts.

The phenomenon of racism is deeply entrenched in our societal structures, permeating various facets of human activity, including the realm of sports.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend an intercounty Gaelic football match wherein a player of African descent was introduced. To my dismay, a group of spectators resorted to hurling racist remarks and engaging in various forms of offensive behaviour.

The disturbing aspect of the situation was the conspicuous presence of caucasian individuals, including the author, who remained in a state of unease and passively awaited for the offending individuals to desist or for another individual to demonstrate courage by intervening. Curiously, the failure to interact with them remains a lingering concern for me.

Observing the collaborative efforts of Courtois and Vazquez in aiding Vini Jr evokes admiration. Termed as naivety or blind optimism, observing white teammates displaying support towards their fellow comrade is a constructive occurrence.

During the recent instances of racist abuse directed towards Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, and Tyrone Mings, notable figures such as Gareth Southgate and Jordan Henderson of the English men's team demonstrated an unwavering show of support.

Consider the cogitations of certain football enthusiasts regarding the recent penalties that were missed by three black England players – Bukayo Saka, Rashford, and Jadon Sancho – during the final match of the Euro 2020 tournament.

It can be confidently posited that a substantial segment of individuals possessed prior knowledge that the mobbing would be aggravated due to the race of the affected individuals. Failing to successfully execute a penalty kick and expressing frustration thereof does not constitute a significant issue, yet appending a comment regarding an individual's skin color in short order transforms it into a substantial concern.

In Ireland, we too are susceptible to its effects. During an exhibition game in Tipperary, Lee Chin was reportedly subjected to racial prejudice and discriminatory behavior. The offender was subjected to a 48-week suspension, though candidly, the severity of the penalty is insufficient.

In a recent development, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) has implemented an upgrade in the categorization of any action, statement, or nonverbal communication characterized as racist, sectarian, or anti-inclusion/diversity directed towards an official or opponent. Specifically, such instances are now classified as a Category VI charge, resulting in a potential suspension duration of 48 weeks, which could increase to 96 weeks for subsequent transgressions.

The act of contemplating one's response, reaction and approach to reporting an uncomfortable situation remains a persistently challenging task. The Wexford hurling team contested an infraction committed by an opposing player from Tipperary and brought it to the attention of the match official.

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) has established webinars in collaboration with Sports Against Racism Ireland (SARI) to provide assistance to volunteers in managing matters related to racism. One might presume that logical reasoning would dictate identifying the offender, expelling them, and implementing a significant prohibition and monetary penalty. The recurrence of this common adage at sporting events has been met with minimal action from spectators who may express a sense of mild despair. In such instances, it is not uncommon for individuals to remain idle, engaging in minimal activity and attempting to rationalize that the actions of a single individual do not reflect the views of the greater collective.

Observing Vini Jr's emotional response at Valencia served as a poignant illustration of the profound impact that game outcomes can have on players. Similarly, the typically composed Carlo Ancelotti's display of visible agitation during the same game, coupled with his reluctance to engage in post-match football discourse, suggests a belief that no retribution could sufficiently match the severity of the infraction.

The reputation of La Liga has been compromised on a global scale due to its insufficient measures in combatting acts of racism. Despite widespread condemnation, there persists in Spain a societal and media-backed justification for the act of Atletico Madrid fans in hanging an effigy of Vini Jr from a bridge. The continued defense of the occurrence of racist insults being hurled at Vini Jr. by Atletico Madrid fans is presently under scrutiny. There remains a persistent expectation that by characterizing black players as potential disruptors and implicitly suggesting their complicity in creating problems, an attempt can be made to demonstrate the existence of multiple perspectives on the matter.

The notion of racism is not subjective, therefore, a dichotomy in the discourse surrounding this phenomenon cannot be observed. The act of mentioning an individual's skin color constitutes a form of racism. The situation prevalent in Spain and the La Liga serves as an extreme example of the issue at hand. This serves as a valuable lesson for nations that are hesitant to take necessary actionstowards resolving similar dilemmas.

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