(foto: Getty Images)
Brazilian superstar Vinicius Junior has called on Spain to take decisive action against racism in football stadiums.
In an interview with CNN, Brazilian superstar Vinicius Junior addressed the pressing issue of racism in Spanish stadiums, where he has been repeatedly targeted by vile attacks. Notably, the unpleasant incidents at Mestalla Stadium in Valencia have left a lasting impression. Vinicius believes that Spain should put more effort into solving this problem and suggests that the 2030 World Cup, which Spain will co-host with Portugal and Morocco, could serve as a milestone for change.
"If the issues with racism aren't resolved by 2030, Spain should be stripped of the right to host the World Cup," Vinicius said.
"There is a lot of time for change before 2030. I hope Spain understands this and realizes how dangerous it is to insult someone based on the color of their skin. If this doesn't change by 2030, in my opinion, we should find a replacement host for the World Cup. If a player doesn't feel comfortable and safe in a country where they can be a target of racism, serious problems could arise."
Vinicius acknowledges that the problem is caused by a minority.
"In Spain, the majority of people are not racist. It's smaller groups that tarnish the image of a country that is otherwise a great place to live. I enjoy playing for Real Madrid. I love Spain, and I couldn’t imagine better conditions for me and my family. I just hope that these things get better, and there is certainly a lot of room for improvement," Vinicius added.