A racism scandal has overshadowed the Spanish basketball league finals between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Barça’s Nigerian star, James Nnaji, 18, was allegedly racially abused by the crowd as he got off the team bus before a game in Madrid.
Barcelona, which like Madrid is affiliated to city’s football club, condemned the incident in a statement on Wednesday and demanded “a firm and exemplary reaction” from the league.
The abuse can be heard on videos published by Spanish media.As of Thursday, neither the league nor Real Madrid had issued statements making this the latest to hit sport in Spain.
Barça coach, Sarunas Jasikevicius, whose side won the finals, compared the incident to the recent racist abuse towards Madrid football star, Vinicius Junior and indirectly accused the club of applying double standards.
“This is deplorable. I hear a lot about Vinicius and now we have to talk about what has happened now,” the Lithuanian coach told reporters.
“I don’t think this is in line with the values of Real Madrid and the supporters of the club. We are very angry about it.”
The racist abuse towards Vinicius caused a stir a month ago. The Brazilian was insulted from the stands during a match at Valencia.
Only two days after the incident, three suspects were arrested. Madrid filed a hate crime complaint and the public prosecutor’s office started an investigation.
Parts of Valencia’s Mestalla stadium were closed for three matches. (Dpa/NAN)