Article prepared by researchers Ana Vitória Guerra, Eduarda Vieira and Maria Eduarda D’urso.
Racism in Spain reveals itself as a phenomenon intrinsically intertwined with the country's colonial legacy. Over centuries, Spain exercised dominion over several territories in different parts of the world, imposing your culture, language and belief systems to colonized peoples. In this sense, This colonization process implanted ideologies of racial superiority that persist to this day. In this way, from the perspective of postcolonial theory, racism in Spain cannot be understood separately from its colonial history, as colonial narratives and practices continue to shape social dynamics, political and cultural of the country.
At first, The lack of specific legislation to combat racial discrimination in Spain is proof that colonial history still shapes Spanish society. Added to that, according to statistics from the country's own government, through the Ministry of the Interior, The body that produces produces a report every year with the evolution of cases, revealed that in 2021, they were 639 cases of racism and xenophobia, and a year later, in 2022, increased to 755, highlighting the severity of the problem.
Furthermore, the case of Vinicius Junior, Brazilian football player who currently plays for Real Madrid and who has suffered numerous racist crimes since moving to Spain, brought great visibility to the issue of racism in Spain and in world football. That said, in 2023, the Ministry of Equality of the Kingdom of Spain together with the Ministry of Racial Equality of the Federative Republic of Brazil, issued an official note regarding the growing cases of racist attacks committed against Vini Junior, condemning violence occurring on and off football pitches. Besides that, the Brazilian and Spanish governments signed an agreement that establishes several public actions, not only prioritizing the fight against racism in sports, but also prioritizing protection over human rights protection, combating gender and ethnic political violence in both countries.
In light of the attacks suffered against Vini Jr last year, Itamaraty mobilized to take measures to prevent such acts, contacting the Spanish authorities, sponsors and sports entities, like FIFA and La Liga. Therefore, entities linked to the government of Spain, as the State Secretariat for Sport, Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Superior Sports Council, published a note of repudiation regarding cases of racial violence, however, without presenting a concrete solution on penalties, just proposing an awareness campaign for fans.
In addition, in 4 June 2023, an anti-racist demonstration took place in Callao Square, not center of Madrid, as a form of support for Vinicius Jr. e, also to demand a position from La Liga. Like this, in Sao Paulo, people gathered in front of the Spanish Consulate, protesting the racist attacks directed at the athlete.
FIGURE 1: Demonstration against racist acts in Madrid, Spain. Available in:https://www.uol.com.br/ecoa/ultimas-noticias/2023/06/06/vini-jr-e-virada-de-chave-para-brasileiros-denunciarem-racismo-em-madri.htm
Yet, new racist demonstrations by fans against the player were reported in the midst of the European Champions Cup in 2024. In response, Vinicius Jr. made a gesture that references the Black Panther symbol of resistance, American group that defended the rights and freedom of black people in their country, the group is also known worldwide for its motto “Black Power”. Besides that, the athlete used the “X” application to carry out a public charge aimed at the UEFA Champions League, demanding the appropriate punishments for what happened. In contrast, UEFA has declared that such acts are outside its scope of regulation, therefore, no punishment has been or will be applied.
FIGURE 2: Brazilian football player, Vinicius Jr, makes an anti-racist gesture during the match between Real Madrid and Valencia. Available in: https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/esportes/em-reencontro-com-valencia-vini-jr-brilha-e-comemora-com-gesto-antirracista/
In summary, the theme of racism in Spain reflects a heritage rooted in its colonial past, as well as in many other regions. This legacy continues to influence contemporary society, manifesting itself in various forms of discrimination and inequality. The recent cases of racial discrimination against football player Vinicius Junior have highlighted the urgency of addressing this problem more effectively. Despite government and social efforts to promote awareness and condemn these acts, The lack of effective measures to hold those responsible accountable and prevent future incidents is a cause for concern.
Cooperation between the Spanish and Brazilian governments, together with the support of international sporting entities, It is an important step towards combating racism in sport and society in general. However, It is crucial that these efforts are accompanied by more robust policies and legislation that guarantee the protection of human rights and promote racial equality in all spheres of life.
The public demonstrations in both Madrid and São Paulo highlight solidarity and the desire for change on the part of civil society, while UEFA's response highlights the need for a broader and more inclusive approach by sporting institutions to combat systemic racism. In short, Effectively combating racism requires a joint effort from all sectors of society, with the intention of not only punishing the guilty, but also promote a culture of respect, equality and inclusion for all.
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