Luxemburgo Critiques Vinícius Júnior's Behavior on the Field
Controversial comments from former Brazilian coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo. He claimed that Vinícius provokes the persecution against him due to his attitude on the pitch.
Vanderlei Luxemburgo, the former Brazilian coach, has sparked controversy with his recent comments about Vinícius Júnior in an interview with Benjamin Back. Luxemburgo claimed that the Real Madrid forward provokes the treatment he receives on the field, saying, "I think he provokes a lot of that persecution by doing things he shouldn’t." His remarks come amid the ongoing discussions around the intense attention Vinícius faces from opposing players and fans.
Vinícius Júnior will return to action with Brazil this Thursday after missing the October international break, during which he also faced the disappointment of not winning the Ballon d'Or, which was awarded to Rodri instead. The young forward arrives after scoring three goals in the latest La Liga match and with a renewed desire to shine for his national team.
Despite strong support for Vinícius in Brazil, particularly regarding the issues of racism, Luxemburgo has diverged from the prevailing narrative. The former coach does not link the hostility towards the player to racism, commenting, "No, it has nothing to do with racism. Racism in football is treated very differently."
Luxemburgo went on to share an anecdote from the Champions League semifinals, referencing an incident with Joshua Kimmich. "I have an image where the opponent returns the ball politely, and he throws it on the ground. The rival picks it up and returns it, but he plays on the floor and then starts mocking the player. There’s Modrić in the same club, the rival hands him the ball, and he takes the throw-in," he explained, alluding to a now-viral moment during the match.
The former coach also criticized Vinícius' reaction to physical confrontations, suggesting that the Brazilian overreacts to tackles. "A kick comes, and then Vini stands up and hits the player, as if you can’t give a kick. Imagine how many kicks Pelé received, imagine how many Zico received. He gets irritated with tackles as if it’s persecution because he’s black," Luxemburgo said, clearly frustrated with the Real Madrid star’s behavior.
These comments add fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding Vinícius Júnior’s role as both a footballing talent and a symbol of the fight against racism in football. Despite the criticism, it’s evident that Vinícius’ actions both on and off the pitch continue to provoke strong reactions, not only in Spain but also in his home country.
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