As the heated derby between Atlético and Real approaches this Sunday (9 p.m.), Atlético supporters are relaying a call to go to the Metropolitano with a mask on their face to insult Vinicius Junior without risking being identified .
The hashtag of shame, nothing more, nothing less. Ahead of the always highly anticipated Madrid derby between Atlético and Real, scheduled for Sunday (9 p.m.) on the occasion of the eighth day of La Liga, some Colchoneros fans have launched a movement that is, to say the least, disgusting on social networks. Their “idea”: to encourage as many people as possible to go to the Metropolitano wearing a mask covering their face in order to insult Vinicius Junior with little or no risk of being identified.
Real fans demand action
As reported by several media including the daily Sport, this hashtag called #MetropolitanoConMascarilla (Metropolitano with a mask) has gained momentum in recent days on X (formerly Twitter), often accompanied by racist comments. Which pushed Real supporters to call on La Liga and Spanish football authorities to take measures and avoid having stands curiously filled with masked people on Sunday.
Frequently targeted for his skin color, Vinicius has in recent years become a leader in the fight against discrimination. In May 2023, four Atlético ultras, accused of having hung a mannequin bearing the Brazilian’s image a few months earlier from a bridge in the Spanish capital, were banned from stadiums for two years. At the start of the year, the Madrilenian also denounced racist chants sung by Atlético supporters before their Champions League round of 16 second leg against Inter Milan, and demanded sanctions from UEFA.
In his message, he relayed a video where we heard fans singing “Alé, alé, alé, Vinicius chimpanzee” in front of the Metropolitano. “It’s a sad reality that happens even during matches where I am not present,” condemned the 24-year-old player, victim of racist acts or insults on numerous occasions since his arrival in Madrid in 2018.
