Valencia CF Sues Netflix Over Alleged Falsehoods in Vinícius Júnior Documentary
Key Takeaways
- Valencia CF has filed a lawsuit against Netflix over alleged mistranslations in a Vinícius Júnior documentary.
- The club demands subtitle corrections, financial compensation, and inclusion of the court ruling in the film.
VALENCIA, Spain – Spanish football club Valencia CF has filed a lawsuit against streaming giant Netflix and a production company, alleging that a documentary about Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior contains false subtitles that wrongly portray the club’s fans as racist and damage the club’s honor .
The legal action, filed in late September 2025, centers on the documentary “Baila, Vini” (also known as “Vini: The Infinite Game”), which chronicles the Brazilian player’s career . The club is seeking financial compensation, a correction of the subtitles in the film, and the publication of the court’s ruling .
The Core of the Controversy
The dispute stems from a specific scene in the documentary that shows a social media video from a heated La Liga match between Valencia and Real Madrid at Mestalla Stadium on May 21, 2023 . The video’s subtitles translate a crowd chant as “mono,” the Spanish word for “monkey,” a racist slur .
Valencia club officials vehemently contest this. They insist the crowd was actually chanting “tonto,” which translates to “silly” or “foolish” . The club argues that this mistranslation falsely accuses a large section of its fanbase of racist behavior, rather than the typical football jeering .
This isn’t the first time this specific allegation has been made and challenged. Then-Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti initially stated after the match that the entire stadium had shouted “monkey” at Vinícius but later apologized, clarifying he realized it was not the entire crowd . Furthermore, during the subsequent criminal trial of fans who were convicted of racism, experts testified that the social media video in question had been edited and the “monkey” subtitles did not correspond to reality .
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Legal Demands and Prior Warnings
Valencia CF stated that it resorted to legal action only after its prior public demands for corrections from the documentary’s production company, Conspiraçao Films, went unfulfilled . The club has also requested that, should the court rule in its favor, the judgment must be included as part of the documentary itself to provide context and correct the record .
A request for comment sent to Netflix was not immediately answered .
Acknowledged Abuse and Broader Context
The lawsuit highlights the complex and sensitive nature of addressing racism in football. Valencia’s legal action focuses on the alleged misrepresentation of its general fanbase, but the club does not deny that Vinícius Júnior was subjected to racist abuse during the 2023 match by specific individuals .
The club swiftly identified three fans involved in racist abuse, who were later convicted in what were reported as Spain’s first racism-related convictions in professional soccer . The fans received eight-month prison sentences and were banned from stadiums for two years . Vinícius, who has been repeatedly subjected to racist insults in Spain, was visibly in tears during that match and confronted a fan who was making monkey gestures .
Representatives for Vinícius Júnior have indicated that the player does not intend to get involved in the legal dispute, as the lawsuit is directed at Netflix and the producers, not him or his club .
The case underscores the ongoing tensions in Spanish soccer as it grapples with how to combat racism while ensuring that media portrayals of incidents are accurate and do not unfairly tarnish entire communities . As the lawsuit progresses, it is being closely watched for its potential implications on accountability and narrative in football’s global war on discrimination.
FAQs
1. Why is Valencia CF suing Netflix?
Valencia CF is suing Netflix over false subtitles in the Vinícius Júnior documentary “Baila, Vini,” which the club claims wrongly portray its fans as racist.
2. What does Valencia want from the lawsuit?
The club seeks financial compensation, correction of the subtitles, and a court ruling added to the documentary to clear its reputation.
3. Did racist abuse occur during the 2023 match?
Yes, three individuals were convicted of racist abuse against Vinícius Júnior. However, Valencia argues the documentary falsely suggests widespread racism by its fans.
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