Spanish authorities have arrested four individuals in connection with an alleged online campaign aimed at racially abusing Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. The campaign reportedly encouraged fans to wear black face masks to conceal their identities while engaging in racist behavior towards the Brazilian forward.

Vinicius Jr, 24, has been vocal about the racial abuse he has endured throughout his career, even breaking down emotionally during a press conference earlier this year. He expressed his frustration, admitting that the constant discrimination has made him feel “less and less” inclined to continue playing football.

The four men were taken into custody on 14 and 15 October but were later released as investigations continue. While the Spanish national police have not disclosed their identities, they confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing and could lead to further arrests. The racist campaign, which went viral online, sparked significant concern across Spain, leading to these arrests.

The first action by the police took place on 29 September ahead of the La Liga derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium. The campaign, circulated under the hashtag “Metropolitano with a mask” in English, stirred tensions, although no specific racist incidents occurred during the match itself. However, the game was briefly suspended when objects were thrown onto the pitch.

This isn’t the first time racist abuse has targeted Vinicius Jr. In June, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for their involvement in racist incidents during a match in May 2023. Following these ongoing issues, Vinicius has said that he and his teammates will walk off the pitch if faced with more racism this season, emphasizing that stopping matches may be the only solution to ending racism in football.

Joao Felix scored twice to lead Chelsea to a 4-1 victory over Panathinaikos in the UEFA Conference League, on a night filled with heartfelt tributes to the Greek side’s former defender George Baldock, who tragically passed away at the age of 31 earlier this month.

Before the match, Panathinaikos players trained in shirts bearing Baldock’s squad number, 32, and Chelsea’s players honored his memory by holding up a shirt with his name and number. Fans from both clubs also paid tribute, displaying placards with the number 32. David Bowie’s Starman played over the stadium’s speakers, a nod to Baldock’s nickname, creating a somber yet united atmosphere.

Panathinaikos started the game with intensity, almost taking an early lead through Tin Jedvaj’s header, but Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen made a sharp save. Despite Panathinaikos’ high-energy opening, Chelsea slowly found their rhythm. Joao Felix opened the scoring with a clever one-two with Mykhailo Mudryk, slotting the ball home.

Mudryk then added a second goal early in the second half, heading in a cross from Pedro Neto for his first goal of the season. Felix completed his brace shortly afterward with a deflected shot, following another assist from Mudryk.

Chelsea’s dominance continued when Christopher Nkunku sealed the victory with a confident penalty after Daniel Mancini’s foul. Though Panathinaikos managed to pull one back through a well-taken goal by Facundo Pellistri, it was not enough to change the outcome, as Chelsea maintained their perfect record in the league phase.

The win marks another solid performance for Enzo Maresca’s side, while the night will be remembered for the emotional tributes paid to Baldock, a player deeply cherished by Panathinaikos fans and beyond.

Celtic delivered a resolute defensive performance to secure a vital point in a 0-0 draw against last season’s Europa League champions, Atalanta, in Bergamo. The Scottish champions, who had lost all seven of their previous matches in Italy in the Champions League, defied history and immense pressure from the Serie A side to stay firmly in contention for the knockout stages.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was instrumental in keeping Celtic in the game, making a string of crucial saves, while Atalanta squandered several clear chances. Despite dominating much of the play and bombarding Celtic’s defense with crosses, Atalanta struggled to break down the determined Scottish side.

Celtic’s result comes as a significant boost after their earlier group-stage experiences, where they enjoyed a 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava but were humiliated 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund. This draw marks only their second-ever away clean sheet in the competition, a testament to their improved defensive organization.

Atalanta’s strategy to exploit Celtic’s vulnerability to crosses was clear, but the visitors held firm. Mario Pasalic came closest to scoring for the hosts, seeing his header rattle the crossbar in the first half, with Schmeichel beaten. Schmeichel also produced fine stops to deny Ademola Lookman and Mateo Retegui, particularly in a challenging spell before halftime.

Celtic, while primarily focused on defense, had a few notable moments going forward. Nicolas Kuhn broke into the box after outpacing the Atalanta defense, though he was eventually crowded out. Early in the second half, Alex Valle almost gave Celtic the lead with a deflected strike that required a save from Atalanta’s Marco Carnesecchi.

As the game progressed, Atalanta continued to apply pressure, with Marten de Roon’s powerful effort forcing another save from Schmeichel. Celtic substitute Kyogo Furuhashi had a late chance, but his lobbed effort landed just wide of the mark.

Despite Atalanta’s dominance in possession, Celtic’s defensive resilience frustrated the Italian side, and the visitors held out for a well-earned point. The draw leaves Celtic with four points from three games and two upcoming home fixtures against RB Leipzig and Club Brugge, giving them a solid platform in their quest to reach the knockout stages.

Celtic’s traveling fans were full of praise at the final whistle, celebrating a determined and disciplined display that keeps their European hopes alive.