Vinicius Jr is again compared to Pinocchio by local Valencia newspaper as they accuse the Real Madrid star of LYING about being racially abused and that it’s ‘unfairly harming the image’ of the club and the fans at the Mestalla
- Vinicius Jr testified at the trial of three fans accused of racially abusing him
- Valencia have refuted the suggestion the entire stadium was being racist
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Vinicius Jr has again been accused of lying about being racially abused and compared to Pinocchio by a local Valencia newspaper.
The Real Madrid star was abused during the LaLiga match at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium back in May and he pointed out the fans making the discriminatory comments in the stands.
Brazil international Vinicius testified at the trial of three fans who were accused of racially abusing him last month.
Valencia released a statement after the player gave his testimony, demanding Vinicius rectify his ‘unfounded lie’ that Valencia fans are generally racist. While local paper Super Deporte superimposed Pinocchio’s nose on a picture of the player last month.
The same newspaper have again hit out at the 23-year-old, in a headline which reads: ‘Very fed up with Pinocchio.’
Vinicius Jr has again been compared to cartoon character Pinocchio by a Valencia newspaper who say ‘his lies continue to harm’ the club and its supporters at the Mestalla Stadium
Vinicius accused Valencia supporters of making monkey gestures and noises during the LaLiga match at Mestalla on May 21
The Brazilian testified at the trial of three fans accused of racially abusing him last month
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Underneath the headline they continued: ‘Vinicius’ show and his lies continue to unfairly harm the image of Valencia CF and all its fans.’
Children’s character Pinocchio, a wooden puppet, is known for his long nose, which grows whenever he lies.
There have also been a number of recent incidents, with Vinicius praising Sevilla for acting swiftly to eject and report a fan to authorities for allegedly racially abusing him last month.
LaLiga meanwhile are investigating allegations of racial abuse directed at the Brazilian during Saturday’s El Clasico victory over Barcelona.
At the time of the Valencia match in May, Vinicius was sent off for violent conduct, a punishment that was later rescinded, while Valencia were handed a partial stadium ban and £40,000 fine.
The club released a statement after the player gave his testimony last month demanding Vinicius rectify his ‘unfounded lie’ that Valencia fans are generally racist.
‘As coach Carlo Ancelotti himself publicly acknowledged, in no case can the behaviour be generalised to the entire Mestalla stadium,’ the statement read.
‘The club is fully aware of the seriousness of this matter. Racism has no place in football or in society, but it cannot be fought with fallacies or unfounded lies.
Super Deporte last month superimposed Pinocchio’s nose onto a picture of the Brazilian
LaLiga are investigating claims that Vinicius was racially abused against Barcelona
‘This issue requires the involvement of everyone and Valencia CF understands that it must be scrupulously precise and responsible in this type of demonstrations.
‘The Valencia fans cannot be classified as racist and Valencia CF demands that Vinicius Jr. publicly rectify his alleged statement this morning.’
Super Deporte last month said Vinicius had ‘taken his lie to the limit’ and accused him of ‘committing perjury’ during his testimony ‘when he claims that the entire stadium uttered racist insults against him.’
They then attempt to refute the player’s claims by saying video footage of the fans had been doctored so they were saying ‘monkey, monkey’ rather than ‘fool, fool.’
After the match in May, Vinicius posted an Instagram story which saw him state that ‘racism is normal in LaLiga’ and that ‘the championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano, and Messi, now belongs to racists’.
Valencia were quick to identify the supporters currently on trial in Madrid, but continue to move focus away from all fans at the stadium that day.
After receiving their stadium ban, which saw a stand closed for five matches, the club sought an appeal, and the stand was only closed for three in total.
Valencia called the sanction ‘unfair and disproportionate’, and head coach Ruben Barajas said that the time that he would fight against ‘smears’ on the club and its fanbase.
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