Nantes’ Pedro Chirivella on racist abuse aimed at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior: “It’s a disgrace.” | OneFootball

Valencia-born Spanish Nantes midfielder Pedro Chirivella (26) has called the racist abuse aimed at Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior (22) “a disgrace”. The Brazilian has suffered racist abuse throughout the LaLiga season and most particularly during last week’s Valencia home win against Los Blancos. Vinícius Júnior’s red card against Los Ches was eventually rescinded and the Mestalla stadium was sentenced to a five-game partial ban by the Spanish FA.

Chirivella, a Valencia CF youth product before moving to Liverpool, did not hold back in lamenting the racial abuse aimed at Vinícius. “It’s a disgrace,” said the 26-year-old Spaniard during his pre-game press conference attended by Ouest-France. “Football is the sport with the most abuse in the world. I don’t know what can be done. It’s very negative.” The former Liverpool midfielder believes a match should be stopped and replayed the day after behind closed doors in case of racial abuse aimed at a player. “It’s not just in Spain. It has happened too in England and in The Netherlands.“

Chirivella said he would not hesitate to leave the pitch should he were to witness such situation. “If one of my teammates go, I’ll follow him, no questions asked.“

GFFN | Bastien Cheval