Vinicius Jr Over faces legal suit over Netflix Documentary

Valencia CF is reportedly considering legal action against Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr over claims made in his new Netflix documentary, Baila, Vini (“Dance, Vini”).

The club believes the film falsely portrays its supporters as engaging in racist behaviour during a controversial match at the Mestalla Stadium in May 2023.

The documentary follows Vinicius Jr’s rise as a football star and includes scenes and subtitles alleging that he was targeted with racist chants, specifically “Mono, mono!” (“Monkey, monkey!”) by Valencia fans. While three individuals were convicted of racism after the match, Valencia insists that the documentary unfairly blames the entire fanbase for the actions of a few.

According to the club, the actual chant heard during the game was “Tonto, tonto!” (“Idiot, idiot!”) rather than a racial slur. Valencia acknowledges and condemns the racist behaviour of the three identified fans but argues that the documentary generalises their actions, which could damage the club’s image internationally.

In response to the documentary’s release, Vinicius shared an emotional message on Instagram, reflecting on his life and career. He wrote:
“A 24-year-old having a documentary sounds weird, right? My career is far from over; a biography now wouldn’t make sense.

But I reflected and saw that I already had something to say; there was already a story to tell. May it inspire. Smile is my identity… Tears well up in the eyes just thinking about what my life would be like without football.”

Vinicius Jr continues to use his platform to fight racism in football. He hopes his story and experiences will motivate young people to stand up against discrimination both on and off the field.