La Liga president explains why Real Madrid megastar faces so much hate – ‘If he weren’t so good…’ | OneFootball

La Liga president Javier Tebas has offered a strong defence of Real Madrid star  Vinicius Jr., insisting that the criticism surrounding the Brazilian is rooted entirely in his extraordinary talent. 

Speaking during the LaLiga and European Parliament event “The Strength of All Against Hate”, Tebas used the occasion to condemn abusive behaviour in sport. 

His comments come at a time when high-profile footballers, particularly in Spain, continue to face racial abuse both in stadiums and online.

Assessing Real Madrid’s situation

During the event, Tebas was asked to assess the current situation at Real Madrid, where Xabi Alonso faces a decisive moment in the season with his future and the team’s trajectory under intense scrutiny. 

He reflected on the club’s historical resilience, stating, “I’ve seen this movie many times before. Real Madrid is a team that knows how to come back from behind. 

“Xabi Alonso has Madrid in his DNA, and I think he, the players, and the club will come out on top. They’ve had that mentality since they were kids, and Xabi has lived it at home.”

When invited to offer advice to the Real Madrid coach, Tebas remained equally supportive, adding,

Tebas has defended Vinicius Jr.. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“To keep being himself. He’s a successful coach, and that’s no easy feat in the Bundesliga with the level of competition there. 

“He’s perfectly prepared to pull this off. I wish him and Real Madrid the best of luck, because they always come out on top in these situations,” he noted.

Racism in Spain

The conversation eventually turned to Spain’s recent findings from the Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia, a report highlighting persistent issues across the sport. 

Discussing this, Tebas emphasised the importance of stronger institutional protection for players, explaining, 

“We will continue working to ensure that the players receive none. Normally, the players who stand out are the ones who are attacked the most. 

“It happened with Vinicius: if he weren’t so good and such a leader, he probably wouldn’t receive so many attacks. Even so, we must prevent any aggression. 

“And if a player is particularly targeted, we must be even closer to him to eradicate any insults or expressions of hatred,” he explained.