Brazil forward Rodrygo has hit out at social media users that racially abused him in the aftermath of Tuesday night’s highly-charged World Cup qualifier between the Selecao and Argentina.
The match was marred by crowd disturbances which delayed kick off by an hour. The contest proper was also very physical with Argentina winning 1-0 and inflicting Brazil’s first-ever home loss in a World Cup qualifier. The Selecao also finished with 10 men after Joelinton was given a straight red card with nine minutes left on the clock.
Rodrygo and Lionel Messi were seen having a heated exchange when the game was delayed as security tried to restore calm in the Maracana stands.
Rodrygo took to Instagram to address the abuse targeted at him by social media users, describing it as their “bad luck.”
“Racists are always active. My social media was invaded with insults and all kinds of nonsense. It’s there for everyone to see!,” Rodrygo said in the post.
“If we don’t do what they want, if we don’t behave as they think we should, if we wear something that bothers them, if we don’t lower our heads when we are attacked, if we occupy spaces that they think are theirs, racists take action with all this criminal behavior.
“But it’s their bad luck, we will not stop!”
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Rodrygo is the second Real Madrid player to be the subject of racist abuse this year after his countryman Vinicius Junior caught global attention in La Liga back in May.
