Valencia and Real Sociedad have jointly condemned racist abuse directed at two players during Sunday's match at the Mestalla stadium, marking another concerning incident of racism in Spanish football.
The targets of the abuse were Real Sociedad's Japan international Takefusa Kubo and forward Ander Barrenetxea, who hails from San Sebastián in the Basque Country. A video posted by Real Sociedad on X captured racist insults being hurled from the stands as the players were warming up before their substitution.
Real Sociedad promptly reported the incident to LaLiga following the match. Valencia responded by strongly condemning the actions, emphasizing that the behavior of a few individuals does not reflect the club's values. The club has pledged to cooperate fully with authorities and promised severe disciplinary action, including permanent expulsion from Mestalla, if the perpetrators are identified.
This incident follows a significant milestone in Spanish football's fight against racism. In June, the Magistrate's Court of Valencia issued the first-ever conviction for racism in a Spanish football stadium, following an investigation into racial abuse directed at Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior at the same venue.
The ongoing issue has drawn significant attention, with players like Vinícius Júnior taking strong stances. In September, he suggested that Spain should lose its 2030 World Cup hosting rights unless substantial progress is made in addressing racism within the country.
Spanish football authorities have been implementing measures to combat the rising incidents of racist abuse. Both the Spanish Football Federation and LaLiga have introduced sanctions including partial stadium closures, with Mestalla being among the affected venues. The Spanish government has also become involved, recently joining an investigation into alleged racist insults directed at Barcelona players at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu stadium in October.
The incident at Mestalla underscores the persistent challenge of racism in Spanish football, despite increased efforts to address the issue through institutional measures and public condemnation.
