Former Spanish national team coach Javier Clemente has criticized Vinícius Jr, the Brazilian star of Real Madrid, for what he described as the player’s « repeated complaints » about racism in Spanish stadiums.
Clemente’s controversial remarks were made during the Spanish Footballers’ Association awards ceremony, where he seized the opportunity to share his divisive views.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Clemente advised Vinícius to manage his emotions better during games, saying: “I hope he doesn’t stay angry all the time. He needs to handle pressure and deal with it.” He further emphasized that football is inherently filled with physical challenges and refereeing errors, requiring patience and adaptability, especially from popular players.
The former coach also criticized Vinícius’ conduct on the field, describing him as a brilliant player but overly argumentative—with opponents, fans, referees, and even, in his words, his own family.
Addressing the racism incidents that have recently overshadowed Vinícius’ career, Clemente offered a different perspective, stating: “If he thinks deeply, he’ll realize that everyone loves him. There’s no issue with skin color. We’re not a racist country, and that’s clear.” He suggested that Vinícius’ focus on this issue might serve personal agendas, a stance he deemed unhelpful.
Clemente’s comments have drawn sharp criticism from football fans and anti-racism activists, who accused him of downplaying the severity of the racism faced by black players. As these remarks reignite the debate on racism in Spanish sports, it seems the issue requires more than just rhetoric to be resolved.
