Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior has urged that Spain should lose its 2030 World Cup hosting rights if the country does not make significant progress in addressing racism in football stadiums. The Real Madrid player, who has been subjected to racist abuse from fans during La Liga matches, voiced his concerns during an interview broadcast on CNN on Tuesday.
"Until 2030, there is a lot of room for improvement, so I hope that Spain can evolve and understand how serious it is to insult someone because of the colour of their skin," said Vinicius, who is 24 years old. "If by 2030 things don't improve, I think we have to move the location because if a player doesn't feel comfortable and safe playing in a country where they can suffer racism, it's a bit difficult."
Vinicius's comments have sparked controversy in Spain, which is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Morocco, with additional matches scheduled to be held in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
In response, Dani Carvajal, Vinicius's Real Madrid teammate, defended Spain, stating at a news conference on Wednesday that Spain "does not deserve to be deprived of the World Cup." Carvajal acknowledged the challenges Vinicius faces but noted that La Liga is implementing improvements and protocols to prevent such incidents.
Spain's national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, supported Carvajal's view, asserting that while there are always undesirables, Spain is not a racist country and is a model of coexistence and integration.
Madrid's conservative mayor, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, condemned Vinicius's remarks as "deeply unfair" and called for an apology from the player.
In June, a Spanish court sentenced three Valencia fans to eight months in jail for racist abuse directed at Vinicius Junior during a La Liga match, marking Spain's first such conviction. Additionally, in July, another individual received an eight-month suspended jail term for online racist abuse targeting Vinicius and his German Real Madrid teammate, Antonio Rudiger.
