La Liga has the potential to significantly reduce instances of racism in Spain’s top flight within a span of six or seven months, according to Javier Tebas, the league’s president.
Tebas emphasized that the league requires additional powers to effectively punish incidents of racism.
The league’s call for increased authority came in response to an incident where Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr was subjected to racist abuse during a match against Valencia on Sunday.
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Tebas expressed his confidence during an interview with the BBC, stating, “We firmly believe that with the necessary powers, we could eliminate this problem within months. Specifically, we would make notable improvements in Vinicius’ case. However, in the absence of these powers, our only recourse is to file complaints.”
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Vinicius has unfortunately endured multiple incidents of racist abuse throughout the season. The latest episode garnered support from the football community, with players and fans standing in solidarity with the Brazilian during Real’s match against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.
While La Liga awaits the ability to take stronger action, Tebas affirmed that he would back Vinicius if he chose to abandon a game in response to racism.
“If he feels affected, I would certainly encourage him to leave the pitch,” Tebas stated. “He and the entire team could decide to abandon the match. Ultimately, the referee will make the decision, but personally, I would support him, as would La Liga.“
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