Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior insists the time has come to 'imprison racists' after seeing Mike Maignan targeted with abuse at AC Milan

Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr has called for harsher punishments for racist fans after seeing AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan subjected to abuse.

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• Vinicius claimed it's time to "imprison racists"
• Milan-Udinese paused on Saturday after Maignan suffered abuse
• Brazilian winger has repeatedly faced taunts from rival fans

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Milan's Serie A clash with Udinese was briefly paused on Saturday after France No. 1 Maignan reported hearing racist chants from opposing fans. He has since had support from the rest of the footballing world, with Kylian Mbappe, Gianni Infantino and others showing solidarity.

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• WHAT VINICIUS JR SAID

  Brazilian winger Vinicius was the latest to back Maignan, taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, to weigh in on the incident. "'Just talking won't change anything.' These are Maignan's words," he said. "It is time to imprison racists so that they are ashamed of who they are. I thank those who really support our struggle and I regret those who only appear with empty words to gain the sympathy of the press. Always with you, Maignan."

• WHAT MIKE MAIGNAN SAID

  Vinicus' comments came after Maignan released a statement discussing the incident, which read: "It was not the player who was attacked. It's the man. He's the father of the family. This isn't the first time this has happened to me. And I'm not the first this has happened to. We issued press releases, advertising campaigns, protocols and nothing has changed. Today, an entire system must take responsibility:

  ⁃ The perpetrators of these acts, because it is easy to act in a group, in the anonymity of a platform.

  ⁃ The spectators who were in the stand, who saw everything, who heard everything but who chose to remain silent, you are complicit.

  – The Udinese club, which only spoke of an interruption of the match, as if nothing had happened, you are complicit.

  ⁃ The authorities and the prosecutor, with everything that is happening, if you do nothing, YOU WILL ALSO BE COMPLICIT. I have already told you and if it bears repeating: I am not a VICTIM. And I want to say thank you to my club AC Milan, to my teammates, to the referee, to the Udinese players and to everyone who sent me messages, who called me, who supported privately and publicly. I can't answer everyone but I see you and we are TOGETHER.

  "It is a difficult fight, which will take time and courage. But it's a fight we will win."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Vinicius has been a regular recipient of vile racist abuse throughout his Madrid career. He was targeted by a group of Valencia fans last season, who made vile gestures towards the winger during the second half of a La Liga clash. Earlier this term, a Sevilla supporter was ejected from a domestic fixture against Los Blancos after allegedly abusing Vinicius.