LaLiga Condemns Hate Speech after Vinicius Jr Racially Abused

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior controls the ball during the Spanish League football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 18, 2022. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior controls the ball during the Spanish League football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 18, 2022. (AFP)
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LaLiga Condemns Hate Speech after Vinicius Jr Racially Abused

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior controls the ball during the Spanish League football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 18, 2022. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior controls the ball during the Spanish League football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid CF at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on September 18, 2022. (AFP)

LaLiga has condemned hate speech after Atletico Madrid fans were filmed racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. outside their Metropolitano Stadium ahead of Sunday's match.

Hundreds of Atletico supporters could be heard singing, "Vinicius, you are a monkey, you are monkey" in a video published on social media by radio station Cope in the build-up to the Madrid derby, which Real won 2-1.

Local media also reported that monkey noises and chants of "Vinicius, die" were heard throughout the game.

"We denounce all incidents inside and outside stadiums," a LaLiga spokesperson told the BBC. "We work with clubs to keep our football friendly and enjoyable.

"Hate speech has no place in LaLiga and we always work with the clubs and the authorities to identify and bring to justice any such case."

The clubs have not commented on the incidents.



‘I Leave Defenders Behind for Breakfast’: Leverkusen Signs Young Dutch Winger Ernest Poku 

AZ Alkmaar's Dutch forward #21 Ernest Poku greets the fans after winning the Dutch Eredivisie football match between AZ Alkmar and FC Groningen at AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar on August 10, 2025. (ANP / AFP)
AZ Alkmaar's Dutch forward #21 Ernest Poku greets the fans after winning the Dutch Eredivisie football match between AZ Alkmar and FC Groningen at AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar on August 10, 2025. (ANP / AFP)
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‘I Leave Defenders Behind for Breakfast’: Leverkusen Signs Young Dutch Winger Ernest Poku 

AZ Alkmaar's Dutch forward #21 Ernest Poku greets the fans after winning the Dutch Eredivisie football match between AZ Alkmar and FC Groningen at AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar on August 10, 2025. (ANP / AFP)
AZ Alkmaar's Dutch forward #21 Ernest Poku greets the fans after winning the Dutch Eredivisie football match between AZ Alkmar and FC Groningen at AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar on August 10, 2025. (ANP / AFP)

Bayer Leverkusen signed speedy young winger Ernest Poku from AZ Alkmaar on Tuesday to strengthen its Dutch connection under new coach Erik ten Hag.

Poku can play on both wings and his pace attracted attention in the Europa League last season. Born in Germany, he reached the semifinals of the European under-21 championship with the Netherlands.

The 21-year-old arrives on a five-year contract. Leverkusen announced his signing on social media with an image of the character Lightning McQueen from the movie “Cars” and a compilation of clips of Poku dribbling past defenders.

“I leave defenders behind for breakfast,” Poku said in the video. “Faster than fast. Quicker than quick. I am Ernest Poku.”

He's already played four games in the 2025-26 season, scoring one goal and setting up two more, thanks to Alkmaar's involvement in Europa Conference League qualifying and the start of the Dutch league last week.

Ahead of Ten Hag's first competitive game as Leverkusen coach in the German Cup on Friday, Poku joins Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken as a new signing. The club has also brought in American forward Malik Tillman from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.

It's part of a broader rebuild after coach Xabi Alonso left for Real Madrid and players from Leverkusen's title-winning 2023-24 season left, including Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Granit Xhaka.

The scale of the changes led striker Patrik Schick to say last month that he didn't expect Leverkusen to be able to fight for the Bundesliga title without significant signings.