The antipathy aroused by Vinicius is not only his responsibility, nor does it only have negative effects
It is clear that Vinicius Jr. does not elicit much sympathy, either on the field or in the stands. Majorca captain Antonio Raíllo assured that he would never set an example for his children. The Brazilian has had friction with many other players who approach him with blood in their eyes, while the rival fans use their entire arsenal of insults to belittle him.
Vinicius shares certain traits with other players who have aroused particular animosity, such as Hugo Sánchez, Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo. They are all foreigners and extraordinary footballers. There are those who think his triumph exposes xenophobia and racism that remain hidden but find a place beneath the anonymity of a stadium. Hugo Sánchez was branded an ‘Indian’. Decades later, Vini encounters mindless people who call him “monkey,” the same adjective that Neymar, Eto’o and other exceptional footballers had to endure. A study conducted between 2020 and 2021 found that 16 of the 20 most offended athletes on Twitter were black. It’s not just happening in Spain, and not only players of African descent are affected. If Ozil was not of Turkish descent, no one in Germany would have offended him.
The vast majority of players, coaches and fans view these attacks as horrific. But many recognize the hatred Vinicius inflicts on them, even as they censor racist slurs. Certain behaviors are considered offensive. The dances of Alves, Neymar or Vini are a legitimate expression of joy in Brazil, but taken out of their original context, they are often interpreted here as contempt for their rival, even a mockery. More than a decade ago, Guardiola forced Thiago and Alves to apologize to the Rayo Vallecano fans after celebrating the fifth goal with one of those samba-flavored dances. Already on the field, Puyol accused them and Pep did the same in the press room: “These are not acts of Barcelona players.”
We are all ethnocentric. Subjects from different cultures assign different meanings to the same action. The debate is served: there are those who think that those who come from abroad should adapt to the customs of the place. Others, however, believe that freedom of action should prevail. It is suspicious that it is precisely the behavior of the foreign population that is disturbing and even more of those who are not exactly white with blue eyes.
However, it is clear that not all outsiders arouse hostility. Ronaldinho or Finidi liked them. And no one shows hostility to William Carvalho, Take Kubo or Valverde. Off the record, some players recognize what irritates them about Vinicius and then words like stubbornness or arrogance appear. Not a few of the most hated footballers displayed attitudes that correspond to some extent to the so-called ‘Hubris syndrome’: exaggerated ego, eccentricities, contempt for others. These qualities are the opposite of those that arouse our sympathy: modesty, respect, simplicity. Believing that you are the center of the world and acting arrogantly is a juvenile sin. Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar – and other often booed players – matured, tempered their boastfulness and understood that you can’t go through life without ignoring the sensitivity of your teammates and fans.
On the other hand, of course, many of these maligned players assure that the disdain has made them stronger. Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs made fun of Cristiano Ronaldo when he arrived at Manchester United at the age of 18. The Portuguese replied that only fools would laugh at someone who wanted to become one of the greatest players of all time.
Hugo Sánchez wanted to be recognized as the best Pumas de la UNAM footballer and later as Mexico’s most successful player. The “Indian” insult he often heard in Spain only fueled his ambition: he would answer the racist fans by trying even harder and becoming the best striker in the league. His five Pichichis were his best sleeve cuts to all who had outraged him. Hate does not obscure the envy aroused by those who have the guts not to settle down, fight adversity and strive to dance on Olympus. Let the dance continue.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
