Topics: Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr, Football
Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr received a standing ovation in the 20th minute from fans inside the Bernabeu Stadium.
The winger was in the stands as the team took on Rayo Vallecano on their return home following the racist incidents in Valencia on Sunday.
The Brazilian was subject to vile racist abuse at the Estadio de Mestalla as the two sides clashed.
The Real forward understandably responded angrily and things only got worse throughout the game, when Valencia player Hugo Duro grabbed Vinicius Jr around the neck.
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The 22-year-old responded by slapping the forward and was then sent off by the referee.
Vincius Jr called out La Liga for how it’s dealt with racism in the aftermath of the incidents, making it known this is not the first time such an incident has happened.
The red card was rescinded and the young player received multiple messages of support from people like Casemiro, Rio Ferdinand, and his own teammate Karim Benzema.
And upon his return to the Bernabeu, his teammates walked out to the pitch all wearing the number 20 on the back of their jerseys.
Then, in the 20th minute, the Real Madrid fans stood up and applauded their star winger as he showed his appreciation from the stands.
It was a brilliant showing of solidarity from the Madrid fans and team who ensured Vincius Jr understood how loved he is in the city.
As for Valencia, the RFEF handed down their punishment to the club, with part of the stadium set to be closed for the next few home games.
Their Mestalla Stadium will see the Mario Kempes stand closed for five games after that's where the abuse was coming from during the game.
That will see the club playing with a reduced capacity for one game against Espanyol at the end of the current campaign and four games at the start of the next, they have also been fined £40,000 for 'very serious breaches.'
A statement explaining why the red card had been removed said that there had been "various actions of physical and verbal aggression," towards the forward "in the face of the passivity of the referees, Spanish FA and La Liga."
The RFEF also explained that the chanting had turned the 'victim into the aggressor,' and Valencia now have 10 days to appeal the decision.
Some reports have claimed that the former Flamengo star is considering his future in Spain after the latest incident of racist abuse towards him.
