Real Madrid left back Marcelo racially abused by Atletico Madrid supporters

Marcelo didn’t play against Atletico Madrid but was racially abused by Atlético Madrid fans in Copa del Rey.

Real Madrid’s left back Marcelo and his son were a subject to various racist abuse from a small section of Atletico Madrid supporters after the hosts registered a 3-0 win over their local rivals in the first leg of Copa del Rey semi-final.

“The reserve players from Madrid were out, running up and down, doing the warm-down and Marcelo was one of them,” said Sky Sports’ Spanish pundit Graham Hunter.

“Atletico fans were kept in the stadium, quite a common occurrence in England and Spain, and it was at that point they started to make monkey noises towards Marcelo. They echoed around the empty stadium and I think for all of us who love Spanish football, it’s time for us to speak out against this.”

“Marcelo turned hands on hips, looked up at them, way up at the top of the stands here, shook his head in bewilderment and didn’t react. The monkey noises continued, louder and louder. It so happened the warm-down was finishing and a young child, who I take to be Marcelo’s child, was on the sidelines and ran into his arms. The Atletico fans then sang ‘Marcelo is a monkey’ and also sang ‘we hope your dad dies’,” Hunter added.

Marcelo was unused at the Bernabeu as Fabio Coentrao started the match ahead of him but found himself on the receiving end of horrifying monkey chants when he joined his team-mates to warm down near around 600 away supporters in the north stand.

Real Madrid are yet to make a statement on the incident as it depends upon whether Marcelo asks Real Madrid to act and demand an action against the abuse.