Netflix vs. Valencia: Racism Row Reaches Court

A Netflix documentary on Brazilian footballer Vinícius Júnior, released on May 15 under the title Vini Jr., has resurfaced in controversy due to legal action from Spanish club Valencia. The club has filed a lawsuit against the global streaming giant, alleging defamation over what it describes as “false information” presented in the film.

According to Valencia, the documentary wrongly depicted that a large section of their supporters shouted racist slurs against Vinícius Júnior during a 2023 La Liga match. The club said it had previously requested the production company to amend the alleged inaccuracy, but as no action was taken, they were compelled to seek legal recourse.

A statement from the club confirmed that the lawsuit targets both Netflix and the production company, citing “damage to Valencia’s honor.” The claims include financial compensation, corrections in the subtitles, and the publication of the court’s ruling.

The documentary showed a video clip from Mestalla Stadium in which chants were subtitled as “mono” (Spanish for “monkey”). Valencia contends, however, that fans were actually shouting “tonto” (Spanish for “fool”).

Former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti initially accused Valencia fans of racist chants during that match but later conceded that the entire stadium had not engaged in such behavior.

Nevertheless, it is acknowledged that some supporters did racially abuse Vinícius, with three individuals sentenced to eight months in prison—marking the first convictions for racism in Spanish professional football.

Spanish media reports suggest that during the legal proceedings, evidence revealed the video had been edited and did not accurately represent the actual events. The documentary also portrays Vinícius breaking down in tears during the incident and confronting a fan who made monkey gestures from the stands.