Daijiworld Media Network - Valencia

Valencia, Sep 30: Spanish club Valencia CF has filed a lawsuit against Netflix and the production company behind a documentary on Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior, alleging false claims that a large section of Valencia fans racially abused the Real Madrid forward during a 2023 La Liga match. The club said repeated public requests for corrections were ignored, prompting legal action to defend its reputation.

Valencia is seeking financial compensation, corrections to the documentary subtitles, and publication of the court ruling. The club insists the documentary wrongly translated fans’ chants as “mono” (“monkey”), when they were actually shouting “tonto” (“silly”).

The incident in question did involve racist abuse from a few individuals. Three fans were convicted in Spain’s first racism-related professional soccer cases, receiving eight-month prison sentences. Experts during the trial confirmed that the video used in the documentary had been edited, misrepresenting the crowd’s chants, according to Spanish media.

Previously, then-Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti had accused Valencia fans of racial abuse but later apologized, acknowledging that not the entire stadium was involved. Vinícius himself was visibly distressed during the match and confronted a fan who had called him a monkey.

Netflix has not responded to requests for comment. Valencia’s lawsuit emphasizes protecting the club’s honor and reputation from what it considers misleading portrayals in the documentary.