In an intense atmosphere at the Copa del Rey semifinals’ first leg on Wednesday, Real Sociedad’s fans directed offensive chants toward Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio. The referees were forced to pause the game momentarily to address the situation. In the 46th minute, the disturbance led to a stadium-wide announcement urging supporters to cease the verbal abuse, a move documented by referee José María Sánchez Martínez in his report.
The disruptive behavior came to light when Real Madrid captain Vinícius Júnior informed Sánchez Martínez about the insults targeting Asencio from supporters positioned behind one of the goals. The chants notably included calls for Asencio to “Die,” but they ceased after the loudspeaker intervention calmed the crowd, as reported by the match official.
Concurrently, Spanish media circulated footage showing a Sociedad fan allegedly making a racially offensive gesture towards Vinícius. The Brazilian forward has been a repeated target of racial abuse during his time in Spain, further aggravating the tension surrounding the match.
Reacting to the hostile environment, Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, substituted Asencio with Lucas Vázquez shortly after the game was stopped. “It’s unpleasant for any player to face such hostility,” Ancelotti commented. “Asencio was visibly affected, and I felt it prudent to take him off, ensuring the incident wouldn’t hamper his performance.”
Off the pitch, Asencio faces ongoing investigations in Spain over allegations involving the distribution of a sex video without consent, a matter that has possibly fueled the animosity directed at him. Commenting on the situation, Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal expressed disapproval of the aggressive actions by the fans. “There are better ways to protest someone’s actions,” he remarked. “Resorting to insults is unjustifiable and condemnable.”
The match concluded with a victory for Real Madrid, courtesy of a first-half goal by forward Endrick. The semifinal drama is set to continue with the return leg scheduled at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in April.
