In a social media post, a leading Ballon d'Or 2024 candidate voiced his disappointment over the "criminals" who hurled insults at Barcelona players, who were simply doing their jobs. He wrote, "What took place yesterday at the Bernabeu with the racist insults is unacceptable. Society has no room for these individuals. I stand fully with Lamine, Ansu, and Raphinha. I trust that Madrid and the authorities will take steps to identify and penalize those responsible."
This strong message is expected to resonate with Catalan supporters. While the pain of defeat lingers, it cannot justify the xenophobic conduct that has been a recurring issue in La Liga. It's vital that those captured in the circulating videos are identified and barred from stadiums, similar to recent actions taken against certain Atletico Madrid fans.