Spain forward Nico Williams has stated that combating racism is his primary life goal, in light of several racist incidents involving Black players in the country, including himself and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. The Athletic Bilbao player faced racial abuse during a match against Atletico Madrid last season, which led to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) imposing a partial closure of Atletico’s south stand for two games.
Both clubs and players have actively spoken against racism, with Brazilian Vinicius asserting in September that Spain should lose its right to host the 2030 World Cup unless notable progress is made in fighting racism. In an interview with Spanish daily El Mundo, Williams emphasized the importance of his mission, stating, “My brother (Inaki Williams) and I, as black people, have an important task in this life, which is the fight against racism. It’s my number one goal.”
The increase in racist incidents has triggered several anti-racism measures by the RFEF and LaLiga. Notably, in June, a significant ruling was made as the Magistrate’s Court of Valencia issued the first conviction for racist insults at a soccer stadium in Spain. Last month, a fan from Mallorca received a 12-month suspended prison sentence for racially insulting Vinicius and Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze, while a minor who directed racial slurs at Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni was banned from stadiums for one year and fined.
In addition, in April, Spanish TV channel Movistar Plus+ terminated analyst German Burgos after he made comments about Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal that were deemed racist. Williams expressed optimism about progress in Spain’s fight against racism, stating, “I think that Spain is moving forward on the right path and we must continue like this.”
He noted, “There are always people who try to sell another image of immigrants, but they are a minority.” Williams, who contributed significantly to Spain’s success in this year’s European Championship, highlighted his multicultural background, as he was born in Spain to Ghanaian parents. He stressed the need for awareness regarding immigrants who come to Spain seeking a better life, adding, “My family did that journey. I am going to try to do everything in my power so that these people (immigrants) can have a better life.”