Last week, Inter de Porto Alegre missed out on being a 2023 Copa Libertadores finalist, losing at home 2-1 to Fluminense in the second leg of the semi-final, despite reaching that stage following a 2-2 first-leg draw at the Maracana, after took the lead at the Beira Río Stadium and enjoyed several goal-scoring opportunities which, had they been converted, could have secured their ticket to the title in a quiet way.

However, Inter conceded up to three times through the Ecuadorian Enner Valencia, and Fluminense took advantage of that with shots. in extremis John Kennedy (81 minutes) and Argentine Germán Cano (87), according to the agency EFE. So Fluminense rose in the last gasp to turn around a game that seemed lost against Internacional (1-2) and qualify in epic fashion for the final of the Libertadores.

In accordance with AFP, Inter had a chance to break the streak at the feet of Enner Valencia, who appeared in the kill-kill against River Plate and Bolívar, but the Ecuadorian striker failed to finish. Brazilian newspapers took aim at the attacker, but with unusual sharpness. Until before the elimination, he was called “Mr. Libertadores” and “scoring beast”.

Inter’s reaction and support

For example, in Porto Alegre Correio do Povo He said: “Valencia, the worst. He had three clean chances at the end of the game and did not score. The elimination goes to the expense of the Ecuadorian.” AND Zero hour commented: “Enner Valencia’s mistakes. The most expensive player that Inter has signed this season, and for whom the club has been waiting for almost half a year, can be considered a big credit for Inter’s elimination.”

Then the complaints went out of their normal flow. Valencia suffered a vile racist attack on their social media accounts, who blamed them for Inter’s elimination. Brazilian fans attacked the Esmeralda native with derogatory comments because of his skin color.

Upon learning of the attack, the Colorado team released a statement: “Internacional expresses its strongest rejection of the racist attacks directed at its athlete Enner Valencia (…). The club does not tolerate any discrimination, and at the same time stands in solidarity with the player and his family, providing them with all the necessary support (…). “We will send the case to the competent authorities, confident that misdeeds on social networks will not go unpunished.”

Brazil, with Vinícius Jr.

Was there any official support for Enner in Ecuador after the 33-year-old forward was bullied because of his skin color? The racist attack came days after Félix Sánchez Bas announced the call-up for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers (against Bolivia and Colombia, October 12 and 17 in that order) in which he was supposed to be, apparently, a striker.

There was no reaction from the Ecuadorian football federation, at least publicly. In contrast to this passive stance, when Real Madrid forward Vinícius Jr. was the victim of racist chants at Valencia’s stadium in early 2022, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) rushed to stand by its player with a series of vigorous demands. “It is of fundamental importance to start a decisive fight against racism. Cases like those happening to Vinícius Jr. and many other athletes are unacceptable. “They have reached a point that goes beyond an attack on dignity and is already threatening the physical integrity of the victims,” ​​Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of Auriverde’s football governing body, protested last March.

In an interview for the newspaper AS, from Madrid, the CBF boss had this to say: “I spoke to him (Vinícius Jr.) immediately after the game and also to his manager. I gave him all my support. HBF, under my leadership, is an entity that does not remain motionless, but acts. I have sent letters to FIFA, UEFA, Conmebol and all relevant authorities in Brazil, including the government, with a letter to the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and the Ministry of Racial Equality, so that they can take appropriate action within the framework of the law.”

Pro League: 200 Gavilánez games

In the days following the insults directed at Enner Valencia, the FEF’s social networks were filled with an incredible amount of posts about the country’s second division championship, contract signings, congratulations to clubs and provincial associations, special ticket sales and information about the Copa Sudamericana Semi-Finals.

And if the Pro League has time to congratulate coach Pool Gavilánez, who practically sealed Guayaquil City’s ticket to Serie B, for the 200 games he played as coach of the aforementioned team; to join the praises for the Liga de Quito – because it qualified for the Copa Sudamericana finals – and as an achievement of the Liga Pro to highlight the invitation to the Tricolor of the players from the national championship, there was no reason to issue any statement condemning the aggression and showing solidarity with Enner Valencia.

Couldn’t the Pro League issue a statement of support for Enner Valencia and condemnation of the horrific moment experienced in Brazil? What the Ecuadorian striker suffered, who will certainly be congratulated in every way if he scores against Bolivia and Colombia, resonated more in Brazil, more precisely in his club, than in his native country.

Ministry of Sports: Brazil and Ecuador

Brutal racist attack on Vinícius Jr. originated in Brazil last May, “in an unusual move, the portfolios of (ministries of) foreign affairs, human rights, sports and racial equality issued a joint statement deploring both what happened and the passivity of the Spanish authorities: ‘Considering the seriousness of the event and another unacceptable (racist) episode, the Brazilian government deeply regrets that no effective measures have been taken to date to prevent and avoid the repetition of these acts of racism.’ The Minister for Racial Equality emphasized that she will work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess the next steps that need to be taken,” the newspaper reported. Earthfrom Madrid.

The Brazilian Ministry of Sports supported Vinícius Jr. and got involved in his case. The one from Ecuador, on the occasion of the merciless racist attack on social networks suffered by the representative and player of Inter Porto Alegre, had no answer. Quick in terms of corrections, clarifications and replies perhaps justifies that professional football is not in the purview of Mindeportes (after all, Enner is an athlete), but neither is professional cycling. However, texts supporting Richard Carapaz appear on the networks of the mentioned ministry, as well as the owner.

Enner Valencia was left alone, without the support of national sports entities and so far only the Association of Ecuadorian Footballers (AFE) has expressed solidarity with the gunner attacked in Brazil. (D)