The global echo of the racist aggression suffered by Vinicius has generated a stain on Spanish football, a shadow that LaLiga tries to shake off but that the RFEF recognizes. “We have a racism problem,” admitted President Luis Rubiales. In addition to these episodes of structural racism that have reached the courts in recent years, there are investigations into alleged arbitration corruption derived from the so-called Negreira Case.. Everything, one year after the 211 federations that make up FIFA decide where the 2030 World Cup will be held, to which Spain presents a candidacy along with Portugal and Morocco.

“We do not know if racism is going to influence because there is a year left, but it would be good if drastic measures were taken to address the slightest doubt.. It is not a good message that everything ends up archived. It is the ninth time that it has happened with Vinicius and it has had worldwide significance.”. The speaker is Miguel Ángel López, the former director of the RFEF who was director of the Iberian Bid formed by Spain and Portugal that opted for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, surpassed by Russia and Qatar. He knows what the ins and outs of FIFA are like and what interests prevail. Any excuse, together with the economic power of another candidacy, can undermine the Spanish commitment. «I don't think Infantino is interested in pointing to Spain, a very important federation, and less after Qatar. I think everything will calm down when the competition is over in a week, but I don’t remember a campaign like this one. They must prepare themselves,” he says.

It is not the first time that a shadow of suspicion has cast Spain out of the race to host international sporting events. It happened twice with Madrid’s Olympic bid. For the 2016 Games, a question from Alberto de Monaco about security in the capital sowed doubt. It was 2005 and ETA had not yet laid down its weapons. In 2013, when it was opting for the 2020 Games, it was doping and the international fallout from ‘Operation Puerto’. Both were a burden that was not even perceived.

“We did not see that it was a disadvantage. No one from the IOC told us so,” recalls Theresa Zabell, director of international relations for the bid. “They were two issues that existed. No one was denying them.. Maybe the problem was communication management. We were not prepared to bring up the silver lining of 40 years of experience in the fight against terrorism or anti-doping operations to keep sport clean,” he admits.. His experience says that these shadows “must be stopped at the source”. «All the estates have to position themselves and send a forceful message of zero tolerance. The most important thing is the fairplay image on and off the field”, says the former Olympic sailing champion.

Campaigns and sanctions

While the Police identify and arrest three of the attackers, and the Prosecutor's Office continues its investigations, the RFEF and LaLiga have set aside their confrontations to unite in a campaign under the slogan 'Together against racism'. In addition, the Federation has also launched 'Racistas, fuera del fútbol', which premiered yesterday in the Copa del Reina. An initiative with a double target audience: on the one hand, people who engage in racist and xenophobic behavior and, on the other, football fans as a whole so that, if they witness them, they are embarrassed and denounced, “so that we all end up with a problem that damages the image of all Spanish football, “says the RFEF.

It will be enough? “No one can know if they will bring it up, but some rival can use it as a dirty game,” warns Juan de Dios Crespo, a lawyer specializing in Sports Law.. “All you have to do is be prepared.. Have all the reports ready, because the rival candidacies also have problems of racism or human rights ». Arabia, along with Egypt and perhaps Greece, will lead a bid; the other, Uruguay with Argentina. «Uruguay had Luis Suárez sanctioned eight games for racist insults to Evra».

Crespo does not believe that the repercussion of what happened will condition the votes in the election of the headquarters. Spain has the support of Morocco, and the Alawite kingdom with that of the African Confederation (CAF). «No one is free from a racist episode and not for that reason an entire stadium or an entire country is.. What is done is sanction, “he insists.

This specialist believes that there are tools in Spanish sports legislation to do so. Mestalla faces a closure, at least partially, of the stands where the events occurred and the VAR referee who showed the images that led to the expulsion of Vinicius, Iglesias Villanueva, will not video referee this season nor will his contract be extended.

“The closure is in line with UEFA's measures and would be a proportionate sanction.. And as for the referee, it is a strong message. What if more needs to be done? Laws and regulations should be changed. And that is already politics, “concludes the lawyer.