Atletico fans hang Vinícius figure off bridge ahead of derby

By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer

MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid fans have hanged a dummy of Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior from a highway bridge hours before their match in the Copa del Rey. The hardcore supporters used a black figure with Vinícius Júnior’s name on it, tied a rope around its neck and hanged it from an overpass in Madrid along with a banner with the words “Madrid hates Real.” The banner and the figure apparently were attached to the bridge while still dark early in the morning. Vinícius is Black and has been subjected to racist taunts more than once in Spain. Atletico says “these are repugnant and inadmissible acts that shame society.”