'Straight to jail' - Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr issues strong statement after La Liga marred by more racist abuse

Rayo Majadahonda goalkeeper Cheikh Kane Sarr was sent off in his side's match match against Sestao on Saturday after remonstrating with one supporter behind his goal over alleged racial abuse. The Primera Federacion game (third tier of Spanish football) was then suspended as his team-mates walked off the pitch in solidarity to the 23-year-old. Earlier that day, La Liga condemned "racist and xenophobic abuse" aimed at Sevilla manager Quique Sanchez Flores - who said he was called a gypsy by some Getafe fans - and in referee Javier Iglesias Villanueva's report, supporters yelled "Acuna monkey" and "Acuna, you come from monkeys". This led Vinicius Junior to express his support for the trio in a strong statement.

He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "This weekend, I won't even play. But we had three despicable cases of racism in Spain this Saturday alone. All my support for Acuña @AcunaMarcos17 and coach Quique Flores, from @SevillaFC. To Sarr and @RMajadahonda may your bravery inspire others. Racists must be exposed and the games cannot continue with them in the stands. We will only have victory when the racists leave the stadiums straight to jail, a place they deserve."

Vinicius Junior has been on the receiving end of racist abuse for years now in Spanish football, with the 23-year-old breaking down in tears when talking about the issue this week.

After the incident on Saturday, Sarr's team Rayo Majadahonda wrote on X: "Our team will not come out to restart the game after our player received unacceptable racist insults."

And his team-mate and club captain Jorge Casada wrote on Instagram: "It's an absolute disgrace what happened today... (Saturday) a section of the stadium spitting out racists insults at our team-mate Cheikh Sarr, for the colour of his skin. How shameful, it seems crazy that it's the year 2024 and we have brainless people in the stadiums running amok - We are all Cheikh, no to racism."

Vinicius Junior is among a growing number of players and figureheads in Spanish football calling for harsher punishments to be handed out for those found guilty of hurling out racist abuse. However, there appears a long way to go in Spanish football on this matter.