Former Spain manager Javier Clemente has told Vinicius Jr that Spain is "not a racist country" and says the Real Madrid star must control his temper.
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Vini Jr has faced vile racist abuse in La LigaClemente hits back at Real Madrid starSays his issues are "not a problem of colour"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Vinicius Jr has been the target of sickening racial abuse during his time in the Spanish capital with Real Madrid. The Brazilian has broken down in tears when talking about the racism he has faced in La Liga and has said openly that he thinks Spain should be stripped of World Cup hosting duties in 2030 if no progress is made on the issue.
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The latest incident of racism in La Liga has seen three people arrested for alleged abuse aimed at Barcelona stars Lamine Yamal and Raphinha during October's El Clasico. Yet former Spain boss Javier Clemente has now spoken out on the topic and claimed Vinicius Jr's issues are "not a problem of colour", and that he could try to control his anger.
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID
Clemente told : "I would like him not to be so angry on the pitch. If he gets kicked, he should take it and keep it. In football there are bad tackles or wrong refereeing decisions, but if you can't take that, you don't like it. He is a great player, but he argues with his opponent, he argues with the public, he argues with the referee, he argues with my sister… I think that if the lad were to reflect on this, he would be a person loved by everyone. It is not a problem of colour. We are not a racist country and that is very clear. What happens is that he has focused on it like this because it has interested him and I think that it is not good for him."
WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS
La Liga president Javier Tebas has claimed that progress is being made in the battle against racism but has warned there is "a long way to go" to eradicate such abuse from the game. Vinicius Jr is, however, on the sidelines for the time being after being ruled out of action by Real Madrid for the next three weeks with a hamstring injury.
