Dummy of Vinícius Júnior hanged off bridge ahead of derby
Associated PressMADRID — A dummy of Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior was hanged from a highway bridge early Thursday, hours before the team’s match against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey. The perpetrators used a black figure with Vinícius Júnior’s name on it, tied a rope around its neck and hanged it from an overpass in Madrid along with a banner with the words “Madrid hates Real.” The banner and the figure apparently were attached to the bridge while still dark early Thursday morning. It is everyone’s responsibility to avoid this.” Real Madrid thanked others for the messages of support it received after the “lamentable and repugnant act of racism, xenophobia and hatred against our player Vinícius.” “Attacks such as those suffered by our player, or those suffered by any sportsperson, have no place in a society such as ours,” Real Madrid said. “This type of vandalism is unacceptable.” Atletico had already condemned its fans when a large group of them chanted “Vinícius, you are a monkey” before Madrid’s 2-1 win in the city derby last year at the Metropolitano Stadium.