Manchester United attacker Antony has come out in full support of his Brazil team-mate Vinicius Junior, after the Real Madrid star was the subject of racist abuse.
Vinicius has dominated the headlines after Atletico Madrid fans hurled racist abuse towards him during the Madrid derby, while objects were thrown at Los Blancos players.
According to Football Espana, Atletico are set to ban three fans for their actions last Sunday.
On top of that, the Brazilian called out a television pundit who used a racist remark to describe his goal celebrations, as seen in the video below:
✊🏿🖤! Obrigado pelo apoio! Eu não vou parar! #BailaViniJr pic.twitter.com/h3RsmwYAYw
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) September 16, 2022
La Liga condemned the abuse and now Vinicius’ team-mates are sharing their support for the 22-year-old. One player is Manchester United’s Antony, who is currently on international duty with Vinicius.
Antony told reporters (via The Metro): “There are many things I don’t agree with. We cannot lose this joy, this essence that we have.
“And it wasn’t just us, Brazilian players when we score a goal, we dance. Or when you do a skill. Players from Europe also do this.
“What I don’t understand is always having those eyes for the Brazilian player. It’s always booking Neymar or Vinicius Junior for dancing. That’s what I don’t understand, not only Brazilian players do it, but Europeans do it too.
“What we have with us is not to lose the joy and this essence that we have. Of course, always respecting the opponent, always respecting the person.
“But we cannot lose something that we have with us. I myself have a dribbling trait, but I can’t stop doing it because people talk.
“So, this essence, this joy that we have we will keep. I speak for myself, as Vinicius went through this, Neymar himself went through this situation.”
Antony came on in the second half for Brazil in last night’s match against Ghana. They have one more friendly against Tunisia ahead of the Qatar World Cup.
There’s something particularly cretinous about a group of people who come together under the banner of a football club, with players from all over the world happily declaring their racism as if it were a badge of honour.
Those involved should be ashamed.
That’s true! My senior man