Those who most regret the despicable racist acts of some fans in the stands of Mestalla against VinÃcius are the Valencian fans and, by extension, all Valencians. Let no one doubt it. Valencia C.F. It has also had an exemplary response, collaborating for the rapid arrest of three fans accused of hate crimes. Racism is a cancer that corrodes coexistence and violates the fundamental principles of any democratic society. In addition, it is always associated with other “phobias” that violate human rights. It is good that what happened in Mestalla is a turning point and serves to put an end to the tolerance that exists in all football fields, in all, against racism.
It is not opportune, however, the cruelty that is taking place against Valencianism and, by extension, against the Valencians. If it is fair to be forceful and put an end to racists and racism, what is disproportionate is to associate it with the entire Mestalla and, in parallel, with an entire society. It is similar to what happened with corruption in the past: Valencia was not the only society where there were cases of corruption; in other geographies they were more and more serious, as in Madrid, Catalonia or Andalusia. The Valencians were not, we were not, as was said at that time, “corrupt”; but remember that disastrous phrase that became popular in Spain: “paella and corruption nowhere like in Valencia”.
It has taken years to overcome that reputational mortgage but it seems that some seem interested in imposing another, that of alleged Valencian racism. At the moment they are succeeding, supported by powerful media actors installed in the epicenter of this radio Spain that is rarely sensitive to the discomforts of the peripheries. With an almost unanimous story, spectacularized and serialized to the point of boredom, also on social networks, with an evident interest in turning the case into a powerful attraction to feed audiences.
I wonder if this same media aggressiveness would have been used against some other sports entity like Real Madrid, it’s just a question. What is certain is that in the city of Valencia this 28M there will be local elections, and the tension generated by stigmatizing an entire fan base can have political consequences, because everything is political. It already happened in 2015 with corruption, and it can happen now. The electoral campaign in the city of Valencia is already contaminated by this event. Stay tuned because there may be surprises.
