Vinicius Jnr is called a ‘F******’ by ex-Paraguay star Jose Luis Chilavert after breaking down in tears over racist abuse… as the former goalkeeper says ‘football is for men’ on social media

Former Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert has called Vinicius Jnr a ‘f*****’ and told him ‘football is for men’ after the Brazilian winger burst into tears when asked if he had been the target of racist abuse in recent years abuse.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Brazil’s friendly against Spain on Friday, Vinicius said the abuse was “very sad” and “happened in every match.”

He was asked why he thought he was being singled out and then burst into tears. ‘Sometimes I feel less and less like playing, but I want to keep fighting.’

Videos of the Brazilian crying during the interview have been circulating online, with Chilavert criticizing the Madrid winger on X (formerly Twitter).

‘Bread and circus, he is the first to insult and attack rivals. Don’t worry, football is for men,” the 58-year-old former goalkeeper wrote.

Jose Luis Chilavert responded by calling Vinicius a ‘f*****’ and said ‘football is for men’

Chilavert played 74 games for Paraguay between 1989 and 2003 and represented his national team at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He also played for Real Zaragoza and RC Strasbourg during his club career, winning the French Cup with Strasbourg in 2001.

In May 2023, Vinicius was racially abused by supporters at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium, with LaLiga imposing life bans on three spectators.

Valencia were fined £39,000 and ordered to close part of their stadium for five matches after the abuse against the Brazilian.

The club then strongly condemned the behaviour, writing: ‘It has no place in football and does not match the values ​​of Valencia CF and our fan base.’

Four people were also arrested by Spanish police after an effigy of Vinicius was hung from a bridge by Atletico Madrid supporters.

The winger has spoken out against racist abuse several times, most notably claiming last year that ‘LaLiga belongs to the racists’.

He said on Monday: ‘It’s a very sad thing that happens in every match of mine. It’s not just me and it’s not just in Spain, it’s all over the world.

‘I get a lot of insults while the racist is free; he is not punished. Every day that passes makes me more and more sad. But I continue to struggle because they bullied me.

Chilavert, 58, (pictured) played 74 games for Paraguay during his international career

During the press conference, Vinicius said defiantly that although he feels “less and less eager to play”, he will “keep fighting”.

Chilavert also wrote: ‘Bread and circus, he (Vinicius) is the first to insult and attack rivals’

“I’m fighting so that it won’t happen to anyone else in the near future.”

Asked whether he had considered leaving Spain, Vinicius said: “I never thought much about leaving because if I leave here I’m going to give the racists what they want.”

Earlier this month, Vinicius returned to the Mestalla Stadium with Real Madrid and celebrated his goal in front of the stands where he was allegedly racially abused last year and raised his fist in the air in an act of defiance.

After the match, he had posted on social media claiming that ‘the fight continues’.

Vinicius struck a defiant pose after returning to the Mestalla Stadium for the first time since being racially abused there last season

Vinicius Jnr posted two photos of the post-match celebrations on social media and wrote ‘the fight goes on’.

Vinicius took to social media after Madrid’s match against Valencia last season and said: ‘I will go to the end against racists’

Despite this, several reports have emerged this month that the Real Madrid star has once again been the target of racist insults. Reports claimed Vinicius was ‘racially abused by young fans’ while taking part in a friendly match with schoolchildren in Morocco.’

LaLiga also launched an investigation after a ‘child allegedly made a racist comment’ towards the winger, calling him a ‘monkey’.