La Liga club Valencia have officially filed a lawsuit against Netflix, accusing the streaming giant of spreading “falsehoods” in its new documentary on Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior, MySportDab Reports.
The controversy stems from a scene in the production, Vini Jr., which depicts footage from Real Madrid’s 1–0 defeat at Mestalla on May 21, 2023.
The clip appears to show Valencia supporters directing racist insults at the Brazilian forward, with subtitles translating the chants as “mono” — Spanish for “monkey.”
Valencia, however, insist the fans were shouting “tonto,” meaning “silly,” and argue the subtitles defame the club’s reputation.
The Spanish outfit claim Netflix and Brazilian production company Conspiração Filmes have damaged the club’s honor and are now seeking financial compensation, corrections to the subtitles, and the publication of any sentencing that results from the legal proceedings.
The club had previously warned it would take legal action if the subtitles were not altered, but with Netflix making no changes, Valencia have followed through on their threat.
The issue comes against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny over racism in Spanish football.
Last year, three Valencia fans were convicted of racially abusing Vinícius during the same match and handed prison sentences of eight months alongside two-year stadium bans.
Vinícius, who has become one of the most vocal critics of racism in the sport, hailed that ruling as historic. “This first criminal conviction in the history of Spain is not for me. It is for all Black people,” the winger wrote on social media after the verdict.
The 25-year-old has not yet commented publicly on Valencia’s lawsuit against Netflix.
