Seven people have been arrested in Spain in connection with two incidents of racist abuse targeting Real Madrid star forward Vinícius Júnior.
Spanish police said Tuesday that three arrests in Valencia were related to “monkey” chants and other abuse aimed at the Brazilian star during Real Madrid’s La Liga loss Sunday at Valencia. Four arrests in Madrid involved the hanging of an effigy wearing a Vinícius Júnior shirt near Real Madrid’s training ground in January, police said earlier in the day.
The arrests come as racist abuse of Vinícius in Spain has drawn global attention, including from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.