Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has disagreed with Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior's sentiment that Spain is a racist country after the forward was racially abused on the weekend.
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Los Blancos lost 1-0 to Valencia at the Mestalla on Sunday night, and while that result would have grabbed headlines on any other match-week, the encounter's outcome became an afterthought in light of the controversy that transpired.
Vinicius was insulted racially by opposition supporters during the fixture, and while the game was stopped for a short time, it eventually resumed, but the Brazilian attacker would later receive his marching orders as he was sent off in added time.
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In the aftermath of the match, the 22-year-old claimed that LaLiga and Spain "belongs to racists", but rival boss Simeone has argued against that notion.
"Spain is not a racist country. It is clear that when these situations appear is when you can give them more visibility," the 53-year-old told members of the media ahead of his side's league encounter against Espanyol on Wednesday night, as per Goal.
"We who are exposed to it are seen more, but this is also found on the street. For me it is not a matter of what happens in a stadium, but it is on the street and young people must be taken care of.
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"I do not justify anything and I will focus on what happened in Valencia. It is much deeper, much bigger, but as it happened with Real Madrid, it is much larger. It happens with the players, coaches, referees, linesmen, you know that."
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