Albacete’s Historic Upset Marred by Racism Against Vinicius Junior

On Wednesday evening, Albacete, a second-tier football club, achieved a remarkable upset by defeating European giants Real Madrid with a thrilling 3-2 victory in the Copa del Rey. However, this momentous occasion was tainted by incidents of racism, highlighting a troubling issue in the sport.

In a strong statement released following the match, Albacete officials expressed their “pain and shame” regarding the racist behavior directed at Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian forward, who played the entire match, was subjected to a banana being thrown at him during the home team’s celebrations. Additionally, the club reported that a group of fans outside the stadium had directed “disgusting xenophobic chants” at the player prior to kick-off.

The club’s official statement condemned the incidents, stating, “It is both painful and shameful that terrible, disgraceful, and reprehensible racist images tarnished a magical night.”

Albacete has taken swift action to identify those responsible for the misconduct, launching an internal investigation immediately after the final whistle. They have committed to collaborating with authorities to ensure that the individual who threw the object faces justice.

“We are working to identify the person who threw a banana onto the pitch,” the statement continued. “We are requesting the assistance of relevant authorities and our fans, whose cooperation we seek during this process.”

The club has made it clear that it will implement “all disciplinary measures within its power” to ensure that those responsible “never set foot in the Carlos Belmonte stadium again.” This approach aligns with the zero-tolerance policy that La Liga and Spanish clubs have been striving to enforce more rigorously in recent seasons.

Albacete also emphasized the importance of distinguishing the actions of a “small group” from the larger fanbase, which contributed to an electrifying atmosphere for the cup tie. The club expressed, “On behalf of all its exemplary fans, Albacete wishes to show its support for Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid, and all Madridistas in the face of such despicable behavior.”

Tragically, this incident is not an isolated occurrence for Vinicius. The 25-year-old has been a target of racist abuse in Spanish stadiums for several years, facing a relentless campaign of hate that has visibly affected him. In March 2024, he broke down in tears during a press conference, revealing that he felt “less and less like playing football” due to the lack of punishment for the perpetrators.

Fortunately, recent legal developments have marked a shift in the handling of such abuse. In June 2024, a landmark ruling led to three Valencia fans being sentenced to eight months in prison for racially abusing Vinicius—the first criminal conviction for racism in a Spanish football stadium. This was followed by a one-year prison sentence in September 2024 for a Mallorca supporter who targeted Vinicius and teammate Samuel Chukwueze.

Despite these legal advancements, incidents of racism continue to plague the sport. As recently as May 2025, suspended prison sentences were issued to Real Valladolid fans, and in August 2025, La Liga reported racist chants aimed at Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe during a match at Real Oviedo. The incident at Albacete serves as a stark reminder that, despite efforts to impose stricter penalties, the culture of abuse remains pervasive.

For Real Madrid, the evening was disastrous across the board. Besides the abuse directed at their players, the team suffered an embarrassing exit from the Copa del Rey, marking Alvaro Arbeloa’s debut as head coach on a dismal note. The former full-back, who took over after Xabi Alonso’s departure, could not have envisioned a worse start to his tenure.

Losing 3-2 to a second-division team would be concerning on its own, but combined with the toxic atmosphere aimed at his star forward, Arbeloa faces a significant challenge in lifting his squad’s morale. The “magical night” that Albacete spoke of turned into a nightmare for Los Blancos, who must quickly regroup for their upcoming La Liga match against Levante.