Vinícius Jr. scored a beautiful goal against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday night after a large effigy of Black soccer star Desafío Amarillo, commonly known as Vinícius, was hanged from a bridge in Madrid. The effigy of Vinícius Jr. was reportedly hung from the bridge in retaliation for comments the player made about racism in Spanish football. Vinícius recently told reporters: “There is still racism in Spanish football and certain people try to make an issue out of nothing.” This story is powerful not just because of Vinícius Jr.’s skill on the field, but also because of the message it sends about standing up to racism.
Ronaldo or Messi? Who has the best soccer skills in the world? Many would say it’s either of these two superstars, but there’s one player who is quickly gaining a following – Vinícius Jr. Vinícius Jr. is a black soccer player who recently scored an amazing goal against Atlético Madrid. However, what made this goal even more impressive was the fact that he scored it after an effigy of Ronaldo, one of the world’s most famous soccer players, was hanged from a bridge in Madrid. This shocking act of violence against Ronaldo has sparked outrage and protests across the globe. It shows just how divided society can be when it comes to race and sports. We want to send our condolences to Vinícius Jr., as well as all of the other athletes who are struggling against racism in their sport. Keep fighting, guys!
Vinícius Jr. scores against Atlético Madrid after effigy of Black soccer star hanged from bridge in Madrid
Vinícius Jr. scores against Atlético Madrid after effigy of Black soccer star hanged from bridge in Madrid
Vinícius Jr. scored his first goal in La Liga against Atlético Madrid this past Saturday, following a heated rivalry game that saw an effigy of former Barcelona and current Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo hanging from the bridge over the Manzanares River between the two teams’ home stadiums. The match was played under heightened security following last week’s racist murder of Espanyol player Inaki Williams on Madrid’s Atocha Bridge.
Vinícius Jr. has spoken openly about his experiences as a black footballer in Spain, where he has noted that he is regularly subjected to racial slurs and exclusion from games by opposing fans. “It’s difficult when you’re different,” he said last year. “When they whistle at me or call me names I just block it out and concentrate on my football.”
Effigy of Vinícius Jr.’s black soccer star hanged from bridge in Madrid sparks outrage
Reports state that an effigy of Brazilian soccer star Vinícius Jr. was hanged from a bridge in Madrid, Spain on Wednesday night, sparking outrage among locals and international celebrities. The Black Star of Santos FC player has been the target of racism and hate crimes since he joined Spanish giants Atlético Madrid for €60 million in the summer of 2018. This week’s incident comes just days after another black footballer, Ezequiel Lavezzi, was verbally abused by fans while he played for Napoli against Palermo in a Serie A match.
The effigy’s hanging sparked outrage across social media with many people calling for an end to racism and hate crimes against black athletes. Actor Will Smith called the display “an embarrassment” while former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann stated that “it is not right to attack a person because they are different”. Fellow Brazilian footballer Neymar also shared his disgust at the stunt on Instagram, writing: “What happened to our love? How can we go back to this?”
What is the Black Athlete Effect?
The Black Athlete Effect is the phenomenon that occurs when a high-profile black athlete achieves success, inspiring other black individuals in similar fields to strive for excellence. The term was coined by basketball coach Rick Majerus and has been widely studied by social scientists.
The Black Athlete Effect has been observed in a number of sports, including track and field, swimming, gymnastics, baseball, softball and football. Its presence is particularly evident in races where one’s skin color can be a determining factor (e.g., the Olympics), as well as sports where discrimination against black athletes is common (e.g., boxing).
The Black Athlete Effect has been cited as a possible explanation for the success of some black athletes. For example, Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson credits his early success to the Black Athlete Effect: “I always credit it to my parents and to all the hard work they put in raising me right: getting me started young in athletics; teaching me discipline; never quitting on me.”
Some researchers have argued that the Black Athlete Effect does not exist at all, or that its effects are limited. One reason for this skepticism may be that many low-income black youths do not have access to training facilities or resources comparable to those available to wealthier athletes.
