Why did Valencia deny Netflix access to film the Vinicius Jr documentary in their game against Real Madrid?

Work has been ongoing now for months on a new Vinicius Junior documentary that is set to see the light of day in 2025. The venture is a collaboration between Netflix and the Brazilian production company Conspiraçao as they look at the life of one of the highest profile players in the modern game.

Vinícius Júnior

• Real Madrid
• delantero
• Brasil

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Several episodes of the documentary are in preparation which follows the player from his upbringing in Brazil, his time with Flamengo and move to Real Madrid. Racism is discussed during various episodes but is not the basis of the documentary which is set for release next year.

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Return to Mestalla

Interest in the film has increased with the news that Netflix have been told that they will not be able to film inside Mestalla next Saturday as Valencia CF face Real Madrid in the matchday 27 LaLiga clash. This will be the first time the Bernabeu club return to Mestalla since May 2023 when the Brazilian striker was subject to racist abuse from areas of the stand. Valencia has asked LaLiga to deny the accreditation request from the Brazilian production company. The Mestalla club will also not grant any of the interviews that have been requested from Conspiraçao this week and all interviews from all media outlets with Hugo Duro who was at the centre of a fracas with Vini Junior have been denied.

During a stoppage in play, Vinícius informed the match officials that had received racist abuse from a fan behind one of the goals, who the Brazilian identified and verbally confronted before several Real Madrid teammates and Valencia defender José Luis Gayà intervened in an attempt to calm hm down. Vinícius was later sent off in injury time after an altercation with opposing player Hugo Duro.

Valencia are anxious to avoid the loss of control over any material that the production company may record in the stadium. “We cannot participate in something whose objective is neither known nor controllable and that may seek to damage the image of our fans,” says a source from Los Che.

Valencia, therefore, has requested that LaLiga, who is in charge of issuing accreditations, not to grant access to the members of the production company Conspiraçao, who are preparing a documentary about the Brazilian player.