Jude Bellingham says “football authorities need to do more” after the latest incident of racist abuse in La Liga.
On Saturday, a Mallorca fan was shown on television footage making a monkey gesture after Bellingham’s Real Madrid teammate Aurélien Tchouameni scored the only goal of the match.
Mallorca said in a statement on Sunday that it was working with police to identify the individual.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Mallorca: in February 2023, a local fan also insulted Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian striker has been regularly subjected to racist insults and has been targeted in more than 10 Spanish stadiums over the past two years.
“I think in the games where we go away in La Liga, especially, you almost get used to it,” Bellingham said, after Saturday’s racist abuse against Tchouameni was highlighted. “More needs to be done, whether through sanctions or how to respond proactively.
“It’s horrible to prepare for a match knowing you could be abused, it’s disgusting and the people in power need to do more.
“With Vini, over the years, the blame is placed on him because of the way he plays, the way he expresses himself. Players like Vini would miss the game if he decided to take a break because of this sort of thing.
“More needs to be done to support these kinds of players.
“It’s definitely a call to the people charged with taking control.” I doubt that will happen. I imagine it will be something we will have to deal with before the games.
“But it’s kind of one of those things where you just have to play your game and hope that people will take care of you, and they’re not doing that well enough right now.”
In March, Vinicius said the racist abuse directed at him was getting worse because the perpetrators went unpunished, as he broke down in tears during an emotional press conference in Brazil.
Last month, he imitated the iconic gesture of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico Olympics by raising his fist after scoring in Valencia, where he faced his most shocking episode of abuse last season . Then La Liga reported allegations of racist chanting against him ahead of Atletico Madrid’s Champions League match against Italian club Inter Milan.
In January 2023, an effigy of Vinicius Jr was hanged from a bridge near Valdebebas before a Madrid derby.
Bellingham was speaking ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg between Madrid and Manchester City, which takes place at the Etihad on Wednesday.
GO FURTHER
Anti-racist match between Brazil and Spain: Vinicius Jr disappointed and no money for charity
(Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 via Getty Images)