MADRID – Real Madrid have filed a complaint against the referee who handled their game at Osasuna on March 16 for not including alleged racist insults aimed at their forward Vinicius Jr in his match report, the Spanish club said in a statement two days later.

The 23-year-old Brazil international, who scored twice as La Liga leaders Real won 4-2 at the El Sadar Stadium, has been subjected to racial abuse on several occasions in Spain.

“Our club has filed a complaint with the disciplinary committee of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) against the referee of the match Juan Martinez Munuera,” Real said.

“The referee voluntarily and deliberately omitted the insults and vexatious shouts directed repeatedly towards our player Vinicius Jr, despite these being insistently pointed out by our players at the very moment when they were taking place.”

Real have also extended the complaint they filed with the state prosecutor’s office on March 15 over hate and discrimination offences after racist chanting by Atletico Madrid and Barcelona fans that were directed at Vinicius.

“Real Madrid once again condemns these violent attacks of racism, discrimination and hatred, and demands that the necessary measures be taken, once and for all, to eradicate the violence that our player Vinicius Junior has been suffering.”

Reuters has contacted the RFEF’s Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) for comment.

The incidents at Osasuna comes just after bizarre racist chants by Atletico fans last week against Vinicius during a match when he was not even present.

The Brazilian subsequently called on European football’s governing body Uefa to punish those fans who were abusing him verbally ahead of Atletico’s Champions League match against Inter Milan.

A video posted on social media appears to show Atletico supporters outside the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid chanting racist abuse targeting the Real forward.

“I hope you’ve already thought about their punishment, Champions League, Uefa,” Vinicius said on X on March 14.

“It’s a sad reality this happens even at matches I’m not at.”

The numerous occasions that Vinicius had been racially abused in Spain have sparked a series of local and international campaigns, including the creation of a special Fifa anti-racism committee.

Brazil will play a friendly match against Spain at the Bernabeu on March 26 as part of an anti-racism campaign in support of the forward. REUTERS, AFP