Valencia hits back at Netflix documentary on Vinicius Jr with legal threat

Spanish football club Valencia CF has strongly objected to Netflix over the latter's new documentary starring Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. The film has been released with the title "Baila, Vini" and it seems to have further divided opinion in the footballing world.Valencia CF is aggrieved with the manner in which the club is depicted alongside the racist incident which happened during a game in Mestalla Stadium in May 2023, where some supporters sitting behind the Brazilian international carried out racist abuse towards him.Valencia CF has officially announced plans to sue Netflix, stating that the documentary series showcases a warped narrative concerning the club and wrongly damages its reputation. According to club representatives, Valencia CF did and still does condemn the horrific racist event and ban the perpetrators. However, the documentary portrays their response as being devoid of context, alongside the positive actions they took against racism.The club released a statement saying: "The documentary makes serious allegations that do not reflect reality and damage our image. We took immediate action against those responsible for the racist behavior, but this crucial fact is ignored in the film."The argument brings up racism issues in Spain's football. La Liga's president, Javier Tebas, has had issues with Vinicius Junior over racist controversies, where the Brazilian was not satisfied with the measures La Liga took to fight the 'non-issue'.Also Read: Vinicius Jr breaks silence on racism in Spanish football after documentary releaseNetflix still defends the film, which contains interviews with Vinicius Jr and other black footballers who recounted their experiences of racism while playing in Europe. According to Netflix, extensive research and testimonies have been substantiated, which affirms that the documentary's narrative is true.The emergence of the controversy comes at a time when Spanish football authorities have been encouraged to show action reverencing the fight against racism. Observers think this long-standing and publicised argument might remove some of the red tape around the implementation of new protocols as well as the punitive measures against racist conduct during matches in the lower and upper leagues of Spain.