Bruno Costa Carvalho on Vinicius Jr: “If they call me a monkey…” | OneFootball

The debate surrounding the alleged racial abuse incident involving Gianluca Prestianni and Vinícius Júnior, during the match between Benfica and Real Madrid for the Champions League, once again exposed a problem that has long been present in television commentary in Portugal: the trivialization of dangerous discourses during prime time.

This time, the protagonist was Bruno Costa Carvalho, a well-known Benfica supporter, who during the broadcast decided to downplay racist insults with statements that shocked many viewers.

These statements, made in a context where the possibility of a racial insult is precisely being discussed, raise an essential question: how is it possible to normalize a discourse that minimizes the seriousness of racism in football?

A comment that goes beyond the sports debate

Regardless of what actually happened on the field – and that should be determined by the competent authorities – there is a line that cannot be crossed: the public trivialization of insults of a racial nature.

By stating that being called a “monkey” is not offensive, Bruno Costa Carvalho is not just giving a personal opinion; he is ignoring the historical and social weight that this type of insult carries. What may not have an impact on a Caucasian individual, represents decades of discrimination and humiliation for others.

Even more seriously, the commentator chooses to shift the focus, directly attacking Vinícius Jr., labeling him a “clown” and suggesting that the player is victimizing himself – a narrative that, unfortunately, has become recurrent whenever the Brazilian denounces episodes of racism.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.