Bruno Costa Carvalho’s shocking take on Vinicius Jr racism row: “If they call me a monkey, I don’t mind…” | OneFootball

The debate surrounding the alleged racial abuse incident involving Gianluca Prestianni and Vinícius Júnior during the Benfica vs. Real Madrid Champions League match has once again highlighted a long-standing issue in Portuguese television commentary: the trivialization of dangerous rhetoric during prime time.

This time, the protagonist was Bruno Costa Carvalho, a well-known Benfica supporter, who during a live 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 discourse that minimizes the severity of racism in football?

A comment that goes beyond 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 racially charged insults.

By stating that being called a “monkey” is not offensive, Bruno Costa Carvalho is not just expressing a personal opinion; he is ignoring the historical and social weight that this type of insult carries. What might not impact a Caucasian individual can represent 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 playing the victim – a narrative that, unfortunately, has become recurrent whenever the Brazilian reports incidents of racism.

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