Another incident of racism in Spanish soccer marred Atletico Madrid‘s 3-1 win over Athletic Club on Saturday.
Spain forward Nico Williams said he was targeted by shouts of “monkey” while he took a corner kick in the first half at Metropolitano Stadium.
“I went to take the corner and I heard monkey noises,” Williams said. “There weren’t many of them. There are stupid people everywhere … I hope this changes bit by bit.”
When Williams later scored Athletic’s goal, he responded to the insults by running past the stands and tapping his forearm in reference to his skin colour.
“It was with a bit of anger. It’s not normal to be insulted for the colour of your skin.”
His older brother, Iñaki Willliams, who has also endured racist insults in his career, broadened his criticism beyond those who insulted his brother to include the fans who jeered and booed Nico after he responded to the incident.
“They jeered him every time he touched the ball,” Iñaki Williams said. “I can’t understand that. They should jeer the aggressors, not the victim.”
Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke condemned the incident, offering Nico Williams “support and strength.”
“In our society there is no place for people who insult like that,” he said. “Atletico Madrid and all our fans are in favour of Nico and against these situations, which should not happen in a football stadium or in society.
“It can’t happen in the year we’re in or the society we’re in.”
LaLiga has been unable to stop repeated verbal racial attacks against players, with Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior being consistently targeted.
The first trial against a fan accused of racial abuse in Spanish professional soccer is waiting to be scheduled. The Espanyol supporter is alleged to have racially insulted Iñaki Williams in a match in 2020.
Atletico, in fourth place, opened a six-point gap ahead of Athletic in fifth with five games remaining. The top four finishers in La Liga will go to the Champions League next season.
Midfielder Rodrigo de Paul put Atletico ahead in the 15th minute when his long shot took a deflection off a defender and dipped over Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón.
Nico Williams leveled just before half-time when Atletico star Antoine Griezmann made a poor pass that was picked off by Iñaki Williams. The forward played Gorka Guruzeta clear to square the ball for Nico to score.
Ángel Correa restored Atletico’s lead in the 52nd minute after he recovered the ball in midfield, then slipped forward, where he controlled a long ball from Koke before beating Simón.
The game was beyond doubt in the 80th minute when a shot by Samuel Lino hit the post and bounced in off Simón.
Athletic beat Atletico twice in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey en route to winning the cup.
Information from ESPN’s Sam Marsden and The Associated Press contributed to this report.