Real Madrid have decided not to let the matter slide, as star player Vinicius Jr was racially abused by Valencia fans at the Estadio de Mestalla on Sunday.

Real Madrid have released an official statement, confirming the club will file a formal complaint to the court.

“Real Madrid C. F. Shows his most energetic revulsion and condemns the events that took place yesterday against our player Vinícius Junior,” the statement reads.

“These facts constitute a direct attack on the model of coexistence of our social and democratic state of law.

“Real Madrid considers that such attacks also constitute a hate crime, so it has filed the corresponding complaint with the Attorney General’s Office, specifically with the Prosecutor’s Office against hate crimes and discrimination, so that the facts are investigated and responsibilities are purged.

“Article 124 of the Spanish Constitution establishes as the functions of the Public Prosecutor’s Office to promote the action of justice in defense of legality and the rights of citizens and the public interest.

“For this reason, and given the seriousness of the events that occurred, Real Madrid has gone to the Attorney General’s Office, without prejudice to its appearance as a private accusation in the proceedings that are initiated.”

The club would later release a lengthy statement to thank those that have sided with Vinicius.

“Real Madrid C.F. would like to express its gratitude for the countless expressions of love, solidarity and affection received from all over the world for our player Vinicius Júnior.

“Attacks of hatred and racism must be eradicated from our society for good and this is what has been voiced by figures from all walks of life and from different national and international institutions after yesterday’s events at the Mestalla stadium.

“Our club is grateful to world football’s highest authority, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has said that matches where these hate crimes are committed should be stopped and suspended.

“We are also grateful to Brazil President Lula Da Silva, who is calling for serious action to tackle this problem and whose victim is, as he said, ‘a young man who has succeeded in life and who is developing into one of the best footballers in the world.’

“His teammates have also expressed their solidarity and support for Vinicius, those at Real Madrid as well as those at other teams around the world. Legends, players and coaches, some of them as prominent on the international scene as Ronaldo Nazario, Mbappé, Rio Ferdinand, Neymar, Kaká, Jadon Sancho, Lineker, Roberto Carlos and Casemiro, as well as dozens and dozens of other world football stars. 

“The unfortunate events that have occurred have circled the globe and brought shame on our football, as they are reflected and denounced in the mainstream international media. The Washington Post and L’Équipe, to cite just a few symbolic examples, have underlined in a very forceful manner the serious problem facing Spanish football. 

“And finally, we are surprised by the comments made by the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, because, as he is the head of Spanish football and the refereeing profession, he has not allowed any decisive action to be taken, in accordance with FIFA protocols, to prevent the situation that has arisen. The image of our football is seriously damaged and marred in the eyes of the whole world.

“His inaction has resulted in the helplessness and defencelessness of our player Vinicius. The referees, instead of acting with decisiveness and applying the regulatory protocols, have chosen in the majority of the cases to abstain and avoid taking the decisions that corresponded to them. Yesterday, the referee and those in charge of the VAR evaded their responsibilities and made unfair decisions based on incomplete images, which were not seen completely, which were biased and which resulted in the direct sending off of our player Vinicius Júnior. 

“Unfortunately, what happened yesterday and the handling of it by the referees and the VAR is not perceived as an isolated incident, but as something that has been happening in many of our matches. The victim who experiences the crime can never be held responsible for the offence.

“For all these reasons, we are deeply concerned that no action has been taken by the Spanish Football Federation in this period of time, despite the clear and repeated warning signs that we have been denouncing through our club.

“In view of the seriousness of the current situation and the image that Spanish football is portraying to the world, Real Madrid hopes that there will be immediate and decisive action by all those with responsibility and competence to tackle the evils of racism, xenophobia and hatred.

“Our club will continue to strive to ensure that the values that have sustained our history continue to serve as a model of coexistence and exemplary behaviour.”