
Soccer
19 Mai 2025 | 11:28 |
In a statement given this Monday (13), striker Vinícius Júnior , former Flamengo player , said he felt fear for his own life and that of his family after a racist act carried out by Atlético de Madrid fans. The episode, which occurred in January 2023 , involved the display of a dummy wearing the player's shirt, simulating a hanging, hanging from a bridge in the Spanish capital, on the eve of a classic against Real Madrid .
I didn't know if my family and I were in danger..."
“It was a very sad day for me. I didn’t know what he (the hanging doll) meant , if my family and I were in danger,” said the player, according to information from the EFE agency.
The testimony was collected via video conference and will be used as evidence in the trial of four men accused of the act. As he will be on the pitch for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup , Vini Jr. gave his testimony in advance, which will be part of the hearing scheduled for June 16 at the Provincial Court of Madrid.
The case is being processed in the 28th Court of Instruction in Madrid , and the defendants are charged with crimes against fundamental rights, moral integrity and unconditional threat — classified as a hate crime. The charges were filed by the Public Prosecutor's Office , the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga.
The MP is requesting a four-year prison sentence for the accused , in addition to joint compensation in the amount of 6 thousand euros (around R$ 38,400) for moral damages caused to the Brazilian player.
On January 26, 2023, on the eve of a derby between Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, fans put up a banner with the words “ Madrid hates Real ” — the motto of Atlético's organized fans — and hung a doll wearing Vini Jr's shirt, simulating hanging , on a bridge near Real's training center.
The act generated widespread international repercussions and was repudiated by clubs, sports entities and public figures. In an official statement, Atlético de Madrid condemned the gesture and stated that, although the rivalry with Real Madrid is intense, respect must prevail .
Rubro-Negro's number 10 makes history in the Brasileirão, contributes with two assists and celebrates collective performance in the 3-1 victory
18 Ago 2025 | 15:26 |
"Happy, happy. I always try to contribute as much as I can on the field to the club , to keep it up there. It's a very impressive number, a big one. I didn't know it, but I'm so happy. We came here, we did our job, which was to get the three points, the most important thing is to stay up there," Arrascaeta told Flamengo TV .
The number 10 shone throughout the match. In the 12th minute of the first half, De Arrascaeta provided a pass for Pedro to open the scoring. In the second half, the Uruguayan left Plata in excellent position to extend the lead, demonstrating his ability to create plays and directly influence Mengão's result.
"Now, a little more on Wednesday, to get fit, to be 100%. It's a completely different competition, but reinforcing what we've been doing this year, in terms of style of play. Happy about that. First, getting the result . And, as I said, now it's time to leave everything on Wednesday," concluded the number 10.
Defender acknowledges mistake in goal conceded, values team's collective effort and details his return after right thigh injury in the Brazilian Championship
18 Ago 2025 | 15:15 |
After recovering from an injury to his right thigh, Danilo returned to the field in Flamengo's 3-1 victory over Internacional, this Sunday (17), for the Brazilian Championship. The defender came on in the second half and, even with the Mais Querido's triumph , he recognized a mistake in the play that resulted in the opponent's goal.
"Today, first of all, it's largely my responsibility, especially due to my lack of responsiveness there. So, certainly, I should have and must have done better on that play. But it's a very high-quality defense, they're Brazilian national team-level players , and each one plays their own game," Danilo stated in an interview.
Despite the individual error, the defender highlighted the team's collective performance, emphasizing the importance of the forwards and midfielders' pressure throughout most of the match. According to him, collective effort facilitates marking and strengthens defensive consistency.
" We also have to highlight the work of the rest of the team , because the forwards and midfielders apply relentless pressure throughout almost the entire match. This makes our job much easier, too , which is basically stopping plays when the ball isn't as clear, because our forwards, I think, and midfielders press hard and give a lot of themselves in this area. So, the credit goes to the whole team," Danilo concluded.
The defender had not played since July 21, when he injured his right hamstring. Having recovered, Danilo came on in the 22nd minute of the second half, replacing Léo Ortiz . In the 47th minute, Bernabei crossed into the box, and Danilo, in his marking, was unable to prevent Borré from shooting , who scored Internacional's goal.
The Rubro-Negro coach details the reasons that led to the decision not to include the Uruguayan player in the match against Internacional and praises the healthy competition.
18 Ago 2025 | 14:49 |
In the 3-1 victory over Internacional, Filipe Luís chose not to include Matías Viña among the squad. The Uruguayan full-back was left out of the match played on Sunday (17), at Beira-Rio, in Porto Alegre. After the match, the coach explained the choice and commented on the competition for the position.
" Competition. Alex Sandro is doing very well, he's a starter for the national team. Ayrton Lucas was our best player at the Club World Cup. Honestly, leaving one of them out is difficult. All three are doing well. When you have so many players, the coach's heart breaks. Ayrton Lucas had a great performance. It's great to see the competition for the starting spot," Filipe Luís declared in a press conference.
Ayrton Lucas was named the starting left-back and remained on the field for the entire 90 minutes. The number 6 actively participated in the attacking plays, including the start of the move that resulted in Plata's goal, the Mais Querido's third of the match. Alex Sandro, also an option for the position, was on the bench.
Viña has been receiving opportunities since recovering from a serious injury. The Uruguayan caught the attention of fans with his physical strength and strong performances throughout the season , establishing himself as an important player for Mengão's left back.
Flamengo will face Internacional again on Wednesday (20), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time) , for the second leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores. With Matías Viña available, the team seeks to maintain its offensive performance and guarantee qualification for the next phase of the continental tournament.