sport news Rio Ferdinand BLASTS Spain's football authorities for 'seeming to accept' ... trends now
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Rio Ferdinand has called on Spain's football authorities to do more to combat racism in a heartfelt message of support for Vinicius Jr after he break down in tears when questioned on the abuse he has suffered.
The Real Madrid winger was overcome with emotion during a press conference ahead of Brazil's friendly against Spain on Tuesday night.
Last May the player was racially abused by supporters at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium and the club gave life bans to three of its fans.
La Liga has reported various incidents of racist abuse aimed at black players in Spain but they have no jurisdiction to take action against clubs or individuals and no one has yet been successfully prosecuted for racist chanting in stadiums.
Vinicius has also been targeted away from stadiums. Prosecutors have requested four-year prison sentences for individuals arrested last year for hanging an effigy of the player off a bridge in Madrid before a Spanish cup clash with city rivals Atletico.
Vinicius Jr broke down in tears when asked about racism in his latest Brazil press conference
He will face the side he has been a target in at his home stadium as a Real Madrid player on Tuesday evening
Rio Ferdinand had harsh words for Spain's football authorities and LaLiga president Javier Tebas
The former Manchester United defender ended his message on social media with a show of solidarity to Vinicius Jr
In his social media post, Ferdinand referenced comments by Vinicius' Madrid team-mate Dani Carvajal, who insisted that Spain was not a racist country.
The former Manchester United defender also called out LaLiga president Javier Tebas, for his statements following the abuse the Brazil winger suffered last season, and urged those in power to do
