Racist Chants Target Vinicius Jr. Before Copa del Rey Match

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior was subjected to racist chants by Albacete fans ahead of the Copa del Rey Round of 16 match between the two teams. The incident occurred on Wednesday, January 14, outside the Carlos Belmonte stadium in Albacete, where dozens of Albacete supporters were heard chanting in French, "Vinicius is a monkey."

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois condemned the incident on social media, stating, "Stop racism! This is a disgrace." Albacete FC also released a statement on its official accounts, which read: "Enough of this racism, it is absolutely shameful. This is not the image that represents the people of Albacete or the club."

This incident is part of a series of racist abuses targeting Vinicius Junior, with 18 legal complaints having been filed since 2022. In May 2025, five individuals were sentenced to prison for racist insults directed at the player during a match in 2022. Vinicius was part of the starting lineup chosen by coach Álvaro Arbeloa, in his first match as Real Madrid's technical director since Xabi Alonso's departure. Real Madrid did not issue any immediate comment regarding Wednesday's incident.