Netflix releases all kinds of documentaries these days. Most are true crime stories while another growing trend is the releasing of sports related stories. The latest one is Vini Jr. - the story of the upbringing and the rise to fame of current Brazillian and Real Madrid star, Vinicius Junior. However, it hasn't been praised by everyone. Spanish club, Valencia, is furious at the content and is considering filing a lawsuit.
This comes after its portrayal of alleged racist incidents against the player during a match. The show chronicles Vinicius's journey from the favelas to stardom, emphasising his resilience amid adversity. Valencia claims the documentary misrepresents the facts, particularly regarding crowd chants and demands a correction from its production company.
However, the documentary also included footage of alleged racist incidents aimed at the winger during a match at Valencia's Mestalla stadium, highlighting one of the darkest episodes in La Liga. At the same time, it reinforced the Brazil star's message of resilience—captured in the film's title: "Baila, Vini" or "Dance, Vini," a reference to his public vow to keep dancing in celebration despite hate.
However, Valencia CF insisted that the episode misrepresented the facts and what was said during the match. The Club took specific issue with a TikTok clip featured in the documentary, which includes subtitles claiming the crowd chanted, "monkey, monkey" when, according to Valencia, the word being shouted was, "idiot."
"In light of the injustice and falsehoods committed against Valencia CF fans, the Club has demanded in writing an immediate rectification from the documentary's production company regarding the events at Mestalla, which do not correspond to reality. The truth and respect for our fans must prevail. Valencia CF reserves the right to take legal action. #RESPECT": the Club wrote in a post on X.
Valencia head coach, Carlos Corberan, admitted that he hadn't seen the documentary or the viral clips circulating online but confirmed that the Club was actively considering how to respond to what they believed were inaccurate subtitles.
"I don't have 'TikTok' and I haven't seen the documentary. I know the club is considering what to do. I understand that people are listening, not just reading. I'm focused on the game," said the Valencia manager.
"I know the Valencia CF fans very well and I know how respectful they are," he said.
"They're one of the best fan bases in Spain, and watching a match at Mestalla is special for Valencia and for any opponent. No one needs to tell me how respectful they are."
Valencia striker, Hugo Duro, echoed his manager's stance and said, "Anyone who has been to Mestalla, anyone who has seen a video, can see that, 'idiot' is said."
"I haven't seen the documentary myself, but I don't know why they'd subtitle it with something that wasn't said."
The Valencia striker didn't hold back in his criticism of the documentary, particularly its use of subtitles that translate fans’ chants as, "monkey" instead of, "fool."
"Anyone who has been to Mestalla, anyone who’s seen a video, can tell they’re chanting, 'tonto' [fool]," he stated. "I haven’t watched it. I don’t understand why they want to subtitle something that wasn’t said," he continued. "Three idiots were punished as they deserved, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the fans should be labeled as racist. Especially when that’s not true, and there are plenty of videos that prove it."
The club itself has not overlooked the documentary either. Valencia’s legal team is reportedly considering legal action if they determine the content damages the club’s image, its supporters or the Mestalla stadium.
Despite Valencia having been sanctioned by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and fans having been found guilty in court, Los Che continue to back the claim that fans were indeed saying, 'tonto' and, not 'mono' during the clash. Valencia striker Hugo Duro also commented over the weekend about the documentary and said: "Anybody who’s gone to Mestalla, anybody who’s seen the video, you can see, 'tonto' is said. "I don’t know why we want to subtitle it with something that wasn’t said."
“Three idiots — I think it was three, I don’t remember anymore, however many there were — were punished in the way they deserved and not for that does the rest deserve to be tarnished as a racist fanbase when it’s a lie and there’s lots of videos that show it.”
However, Valencia have objected to the suggestion that the abuse was widespread inside the stadium. The three fans received prison sentences and stadium bans over the incident, in the first guilty verdict of its kind in Spain.
Valencia previously threatened legal action against Vinícius' Madrid and Brazil team-mate, Rodrygo, after he said in 2023 that the "entire stadium" had racially abused Vinícius.
While Netflix and Cospiraçao Filmes have not yet issued a public response, Valencia CF's demand for an "immediate rectification" leaves open the possibility of a legal battle.
I know I'm being a bit controversial but I think I'm going to have to side with Valencia. Documentaries focused on one or two people often show footage that displays them in a good light. It's mostly a subjective view. For a final clarification, I believe an independent audiologist/translator needs to be employed to examine the video and determine what was said.
All the parties involved in the making of the documentary should agree with a second viewing. Should this happen, all parties should be satisfied with the findings. A resolution can then be finalised.