Racism in football is a reflection of prevailing societal attitudes. When a prominent footballer is racially abused, the impact reaches far beyond the individual.
Vinícius Júnior during the game between Valencia and Real Madrid which saw him receive racial abuse and a red card.
Jose Miguel Fernandez/Alamy
The extent of the abuse suffered by Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior shows how enduringly unresponsive the country’s legal system, sporting officials and media have been.
Mario Balotelli was targeted by racist supporters in Verona in November 2019.
EPA-EFE/SIMONE VENEZIA
For much of its more than 100-year history, Italian football has been dogged by stereotypes. It has been seen as defensive, cynical, as lacking in “fair play”. These stereotypes have often applied to Italian…