Overview
- Videos captured a group of Albacete fans chanting racist insults at Vinícius Júnior outside Estadio Carlos Belmonte before the Copa del Rey round-of-16 match.
- LaLiga issued an official denunciation on social media, stating there is no place for hate in football and declaring, "LaLiga está contigo."
- Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois shared the footage and wrote, "Basta ya de racismo, esto es bochornoso," while Vinícius’s agency Roc Nation Sports posted public support.
- Albacete Balompié said the behavior does not represent the club or the people of the city.
- Real Madrid were eliminated 3–2 by Albacete in a match that also marked Álvaro Arbeloa’s debut as head coach following Xabi Alonso’s exit.