Pepe Reina, former goalkeeper of Liverpool, has advised Vinicius Jnr to exhibit more maturity in his actions amidst the racism scandal that has taken over the Spanish football scene.
Real Madrid‘s Brazilian winger was racially abused by Valencia fans during last Sunday’s LaLiga match at the Mestalla.
But Reina, who now plays for Villarreal, has suggested that Vinicius would gain more respect if he stopped ‘provoking’ opposition fans and protesting to the referee.
Reina, 40, condemned the racist abuse and called for the fans responsible to be banned for life, but insisted that ‘Spain is not racist.’
Speaking to Marca, Reina said: ‘First and foremost, any racist behaviour must be stopped. But then, I do not believe that there is racism in all the stadiums in Spain or that an entire stadium is racist.
Pepe Reina, the Villarreal goalkeeper, condemned the racist abuse suffered by Vinicius Jnr but also suggested the Real Madrid player needed to be ‘more mature’
The Brazilian star was targeted by Valencia fans during Real’s weekend game at the Mestalla
‘Those four, eight or one thousand who called Vinicius a ‘monkey’ must be condemned. It is sad that this happens.
‘Having said that, I see that sometimes it’s not just racism, it’s not that a fan is racist or not, but rather that they take it out on a specific player, because he can talk too much at one point.
‘As a general reflection, the less you provoke the stands, the less you provoke the rivals and the less you protest to the referee, the more respect you will have from everyone.
‘I think he [Vinicius] must be more mature in his behaviour, in having more respect for his rivals. It can’t be that every game away from home is a war for him.’
Asked if he thought Spanish football was racist, Reina added: ‘There is racism in England, France, Italy… and we must fight against it, actively and resolutely. Exclude them from soccer.
‘Because there are ‘dummies’ in many fields – that is why exemplary sanctions must be applied: closing stadiums, stopping matches.
‘That seems perfect to me, but I also think that not everything is racism.
‘Spain is not racist, or at least not more racist than other countries, although there are the racist attitudes of some fools.’
The Spanish FA ordered the Mario Kempes Stand to be closed for five games and have fined Valencia £40,000 for the actions of some fans
Real Madrid have described the abuse Vinicius suffered at Valencia as a ‘hate crime’
Reina, the former Spain and Liverpool goalkeeper, continues to play at a top level aged 40
It came as Valencia planned to appeal the five-match partial stadium closure and £39,000 fine handed to them by the Spanish football federation after Vinicius was abused at the Mestalla on Sunday.
Real Madrid described the incident as a ‘hate crime’ and have filed a complaint with the Spanish State Attorney General’s Office.
Real fans applauded Vinicius and chanted his name in a show of support in the 20th minute of their win over Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night.
It came after Vinicius’ team-mates wore the No 20 during the warm-ups as a show of strength and fans unveiled a banner at the Bernabeu that read: ‘We are all Vinicius, enough already!’
