In a stunning turn of events on Monday evening, the Vinicius racism case witnessed its first major sanction. Iglesias Villanueva, the referee responsible for VAR during the Real Madrid versus Valencia match on Sunday, has been stripped of his duties by the Spanish Football Federation and the Technical Committee of Referees, as disclosed by Marca. This resolute decision will officially come into effect after Villanueva oversees his final assignment later this week.
Reports from the pro-Madrid publication indicate that the VAR referee has drawn criticism for selectively broadcasting footage that solely incriminated Vinicius during his expulsion, while neglecting to show the images of Hugo Duro strangling him. This oversight significantly impacted the decision-making process of the central referee, Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea. However, Villanueva is not the sole recipient of disciplinary action, as the five other VAR referees involved in the match have faced the same consequences. The Vinicius case appears to have prompted Spanish institutions to adopt a zero-tolerance policy.
Meanwhile, Valencia CF, the esteemed Spanish football club, has lodged an appeal against the punishment of a partial closure of their stadium for five matches. This sanction was imposed on Tuesday following the occurrence of racist insults directed at Vinicius Junior, the Brazilian forward of Real Madrid, during Sunday evening’s clash. The club vehemently asserts that this penalty is both unjust and disproportionate.
Vinicius Jr says racism is "normal" in La Liga after crowd chants during Real Madrid's match in Valencia 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/WrptDZ4Els
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 21, 2023
As per the verdict, Valencia CF must restrict access to the Mario Kempes south stand, the site of the aforementioned insults, for the next five matches. Additionally, they are obligated to pay a fine of €45,000, in accordance with the ruling of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Expressing their discontent, Valencia CF released an official statement expressing their profound disagreement and indignation towards the inequitable and excessive sanction imposed by the competition committee, resulting in the stand closure. The club openly challenges the resolution issued by the RFEF, highlighting contradictions between the evidence presented and the statements provided by the national police and LaLiga. Furthermore, the club contends that the imposed penalty relies on evidence to which they have been denied access and lacks the opportunity for a fair hearing.
“We firmly believe that penalizing and depriving innocent supporters of the opportunity to watch their team play is an entirely disproportionate, unjust, and unprecedented measure, and we will vehemently contest it.”
Valencia CF reiterates their unwavering commitment to condemning and combating any form of racism or violence, affirming that such reprehensible behavior has no place within the realms of football or society at large. The club asserts its dedication to taking robust action to eradicate this blight on the sport.
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