The Brazilian production company filming a documentary about Vinicius Junior for the Netflix platform will not be allowed to enter Valencia’s stadium next weekend, according to a decision made by the institution. As reported in Spanish media, the club denied accreditation under the argument that the goal was to film the fans seeking any reaction following what happened last year.
In the match played in May 2023 at Mestalla, the Real Madrid player received racial insults from the stands and even pointed out the person he identified as the aggressor, amid a commotion that led to the match being stopped for several minutes. The Brazilian later testified in court about this incident, while Valencia reacted with indignation, believing he was accusing the entire fanbase of being racist.
READ MORE
++ Sávio scores twice to keep Girona dreaming about LaLiga
++ FC Barcelona’s decision following the conviction of Dani Alves
++ Bus attack: Fortaleza’s doctor identifies 1,200 injuries in six players
In this context, Vini’s return to Mestalla next Saturday for LaLiga is seen as a significant moment for the documentary about his life. However, the Conspiraçao production company will not be able to film during the match as they did not receive approval from the locals for their entry.
This is not the first controversy surrounding this issue. In October, Valencia complained that a photo of the incident at Mestalla was used during the Ballon d’Or ceremony when Vinicius was awarded the Socrates Award for his social work. The club regretted the use of their image “and its association with isolated behaviors that were urgently and decisively addressed, applying the strictest punishment to those involved,” according to a statement.
What is known about Vini’s documentary on Netflix
The documentary follows the player’s daily life and was announced in June last year, weeks after the report of racist insults at Mestalla. Initially scheduled to arrive on the streaming platform in 2025.
“Being able to tell my story and inspire boys and girls around the world to pursue a sports career is what inspires me most about this project,” Vinicius himself expressed. The filming team was, for example, at the Santiago Bernabéu last Sunday during Real Madrid’s victory over Sevilla in which Vini started.
