Mayor of Madrid Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida has asked Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior to retract his words on Spain possibly being stripped of the World Cup in 2030. The Brazilian said that the country needs to sort out its issues with racism before the tournament can take place there.
Martinez-Almeida said that he would be by Vinicius’ side whenever he suffers racism, but that he had made a mistake with his words.
“We are all aware that there are racist episodes in society and that we have to work hard to eliminate these racist episodes. But it is deeply unfair to Spain and, particularly, to Madrid, to say that we are a racist society and, furthermore, to put The celebration of the 2030 World Cup is in danger. I ask you to rectify it, you have to apologize, know that when there is a racist episode you will have us all by your side, but you will not have us all by your side when you say. that we are racist. Because that is not true. When you make a mistake you have to rectify it,” he said during a public statement, as quoted by Marca.
The politician for the centre-right party said that his talent on the pitch does not make him immune to mistakes. It is worth pointing out that Martinez-Almeida has close ties to Real Madrid President Florentino Perez, with the pair appearing at events together. The Mayor is pushing for the highly controversial parking project below the Santiago Bernabeu, which will see Los Blancos make a large profit.
“Being an extraordinary football player does not mean that he cannot screw up and this time he has screwed up. Vinicius has the vast majority of Spanish society at his side to combat racism, but we cannot be at his side when He calls practically the entire Spanish society and particularly the Madrid society racist because I cannot accept it.”
“You should highlight that you live in one of the most open, most welcoming and most diverse cities in the world. If something characterizes the city of Madrid, it is that no one is asked where they come from or where they are going. Here no one is considered or excluded. That he has to have endured certain regrettable episodes does not justify calling practically the entire Spanish society racist and saying that the 2030 World Cup should not be held.”