RACISM IN LALIGA: HOW VINICIUS JUNIOR AND LAMINE YAMAL ARE PORTRAYED DIFFERENTLY

Our writer Travis explores the troubling disparity in how Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Junior are portrayed in Spanish media regarding racism in football.

While both Barcelona’s Yamal and Real Madrid’s Vinicius have faced racist abuse in LaLiga, their response and how they are framed by the media highlight deep-rooted biases. Vinicius, who has actively fought back and pursued legal action, is often painted as temperamental. Meanwhile, Yamal’s quieter stance is being weaponised against Vinicius, used by racists to suggest a “correct” way for Black players to handle discrimination.

In this analysis, Travis uncovers how Spanish football’s battle against racism goes beyond the pitch, influencing public perception, media narratives, and even fan behaviour.

By Travis B.

Lamine Yamal has inadvertently become the person whom right-wing racists in Spain have begun to hide their actions behind. As these racists are fed up with hearing that their actions are oppressive, they have tried to justify them by saying that Vinicius Junior, who has taken a very strong approach to the racism he has received, should be like Yamal.

This is not in any capacity a Yamal versus Vinicius debate; it is instead another form of veiled racism, weaponising Yamal's humble demeanour against Vinicius. This attitude that one can develop safety from racism comes from the uneven footing that racist fans put themselves in regarding Black players and their belief that Black people must be subordinate to deserve their place.

Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Junior have been at the forefront of the battle against racism in La Liga. Their responses have differed drastically, this has subsequently resulted in vast differences in their portrayal in the Spanish media. Vinicius has taken a direct approach to the abuse he has received. Vinicius has worked tirelessly to fight the racism present within football, even cooperating with legal proceedings, giving evidence in October 2023 for a criminal case against fans who racially abused him.

Lamine Yamal, in comparison, has opted for a more passive approach. However, this by no means implies that Yamal is okay with the racism being directed at himself and others within LaLiga but instead opts to not give these racists the reaction that they want. 

Something that must be considered is the time spent in the media spotlight; Vinicius was a blockbuster signing for Real Madrid in 2018 for £38m, when Yamal was just 10 years old. This has resulted in Vinicius being on the receiving end of public racist behaviour many, many more times than Yamal has in his early career. Thus, there is a far larger sample size to help media outlets portray Vinicius as someone who is temperamental and often compare his actions to those of Yamal.

On 26th October 2024, during Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, Lamine Yamal scored Barcelona's third goal. Following his goal, he was subjected to racist abuse from Real Madrid fans. When, asked about the abuse the 17-year-old responded with, “I’m only focused on the pitch. The fans saying nonsense doesn’t matter to me”.  Many media outlets portrayed this to be a very mature and positive outlook on the situation. The youngster clearly does not condone the racist insults hurled at him by the same fans who are rightfully outraged each time similar abuse is directed at Vinicius Junior. His response demonstrates his strength in the face of racism. Catalan media outlets have portrayed him as a brave and mature person, especially considering his age.

Both Yamal and Vinicius (to varying degrees) have been victims of racism and have spoken about it publicly. This raises the question: why are they presented so contrastingly in the Spanish media?. ” An exceptional talent" and "a prodigy and a saviour" are phrases used to describe Yamal.  In contrast, a Spanish TV show, El Chiringuito, suggested that Vinicius should "stop acting like a monkey”. This stark difference in portrayal is evident, and it's important to examine why.

One reason for this disparity could be the regions in which the players compete. Yamal plays for Barcelona; consequently, Catalan media outlets have not made racist comments about him. However, the same cannot be said for Vinicius, who has been repeatedly criticised and racially abused by some Spanish media outlets. Additionally, Yamal was born in Spain and represents the Spanish national team (although this has been a topic of debate), which may lead many Spanish fans to favour him over Vinicius, who is South American.

Yamal’s approach has resulted in him being coined “one of the good ones” by many of the Spanish fans.

Vinicius Junior and Lamine Yamal are two individuals who should be battling for the headlines due to their exceptional talent. However, the oppressive nature of the Spanish media has instead resulted in these two being in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

We live in the hope that racism of any form, in any country, perpetrated for any reason, ends. We hope to be part of positive change by writing about it and bringing it to the forefront.

By Travis B.

POTENTIAL REFERENCES

Vinicius Junior’s fight against racism has been relentless. He has taken legal action after facing racist abuse multiple times, including during a match against Valencia in May 2023. His outspoken stance has made him a target of criticism in some media circles. Read more

Lamine Yamal responded to racist abuse with composure. During an October 2024 El Clásico match, he was subjected to racist chants but chose not to engage, a reaction widely praised in the media as mature and professional. Read more

Spanish media treats Vinicius and Yamal differently. While Yamal is praised as "mature," Vinicius has been criticized, with a Spanish TV show even making a racist remark about him. This contrast highlights deeper issues in media bias. Read more

Regional and national biases shape public perception. Yamal, a Spanish-born player for Barcelona, enjoys more media support, whereas Vinicius, a South American at Real Madrid, faces harsher scrutiny and racism in Spanish football. Read more