What Vinicius' words on the 2030 World Cup and racism conceal
Vinicius has been on a crusade against racism for several seasons. At first it was an insult, a gesture, a comment from a bunch of hotheads who, in their ignorance, have no other arguments to use to destabilise their opponents.
Then it was Vinicius himself who flared up like a flame and put his team in trouble for giving too much importance to an endemic evil in football that nobody knows how to eradicate. And, now, there have been contradictory statements where he went as far as to say that Spain should not host a World Cup if racist gestures continue on football pitches.
This message was launched without a question in between. And he said it after assuring that Spain was improving a lot because of the sanctions imposed, for example, on those who insulted him in Valencia two seasons ago. His words have transcended into political demagoguery and the mayor of Madrid himself has called for an immediate rectification.
Journalists close to the club say that Real Madrid are starting to get fed up with a guy who does nothing but signify and some fans are even talking about an imminent sale before that dressing room goes up in flames.
In any case, Vinicius and the racists feed off each other. One insults and the other provokes. Nothing is justified, but that unwritten rule that everything they say to a footballer goes on Vinicius' salary must not be known to him. Although it's one thing to put up with insults and to be reminded of your mother and another to be called ‘nigger’ and ‘monkey’ for the simple fact of provoking you and without the slightest hint of racism in your life outside that stadium.
The racist balloon that the Brazilian player has inflated is going to burst for Real Madrid sooner or later. A Ballon d'Or might calm things down, but Vini knows he needs the limelight at a time in his career where Mbappé is overshadowing all his teammates.
Ancelotti is the balance in that dressing room. So is Florentino at that club. When one fails, Real Madrid could succumb to egos in sporting matters and self-interested hands in the offices. The two of them control that calm sea that only knows how to win Champions League titles, but the management of Vinicius and their war against racism is starting to get the better of them.
Spain's racism cannot be elevated to such a global cause as to take away a World Cup shared with Morocco and Portugal with what that means for society. It is true that there is a lack of a firm hand, laws... but also a lack of culture among fans so that going to football does not become a free-for-all.