The whole Real Madrid squad paid special tribute to Vinicius Junior ahead of Wednesday's night's La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano, supporting their teammate following the latest despicable episode of racist abuse directed his way at Valencia's Mestalla at the weekend.
Vinicius was suspended for the game due to the red card he received in the closing stages of that game, but all of his teammates donned his number 20 shirt to come onto the pitch.
Los Blancos fans also unfurled a banner for the 22-year-old Brazilian, reading: "We are all Vini, enough is enough," referring to the repeat nature of the racism aimed at him this season. In the 20th minute of the game, Real fans were upstanding for Vinicius too.
Both sets of players gathered behind a banner telling racists to 'Get out of football'. There was even a similar show of solidarity from Real Madrid's basketball team for their game.
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Vinicius openly criticised La Liga's response to the various incidents this season and has claimed in the wake of the Valencia game that 'racism is normal' within the competition. "The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Lionel] Messi today belongs to racists," he said, adding that his native Brazil now considers Spain 'a country of racists' as a result.
He received public support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino, while Valencia condemned the racist abuse and Real filed a hate crime complaint to Spanish authorities. Arrests were also finally made in connection with the effigy of Vinicius that was hung from a Madrid bridge in the wake of the city derby against Atletico in January - that was also a game in which he suffered racist abuse.
However, Vinicius has no desire to leave Real. 90min reported this week that he remains happy at the club, with his relationship with Carlo Ancelotti especially important. Real have been left furious by his treatment and determined to back him and fight for justice.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Real Madrid players show support for Vinicius Junior with shirt gesture.
