Valencia CF has strongly condemned the Netflix documentary Baila, Vini, accusing the streaming giant of spreading falsehoods and projecting an inaccurate narrative surrounding the events at Mestalla Stadium in May 2023. The club is now considering legal action in response to how its fanbase was portrayed in the coverage of alleged racial abuse directed at Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr.

The Vinicius Jr documentary, released globally on Netflix, includes a controversial scene from a La Liga match at Mestalla Stadium. In the footage, Vinicius Jr is shown reacting to chants from the Valencia crowd, with subtitles suggesting he was subjected to cries of “mono” — Spanish for “monkey.” Valencia CF has vehemently denied this version of events, asserting that the crowd chanted “tonto” (meaning “idiot”), not a racial slur.

The club described the segment as a serious distortion of the facts and stated that the documentary unfairly generalizes the actions of a few individuals — three of whom were arrested and sentenced — to the entire Valencia CF fanbase. In an official statement, the club labeled the portrayal as a case of Netflix falsehoods and demanded an immediate correction.

This Mestalla controversy has sparked widespread backlash and media scrutiny. Valencia CF insists that its supporters deserve to be treated with fairness and respect, especially given the severity of the racial abuse portrayal. The club emphasized that while it condemned the isolated racist acts committed during the game, the broader fanbase must not be misrepresented.

In parallel, Spain’s police union JUPOL has also criticized the documentary for insinuations of institutional racism involving local law enforcement during the incident. The union announced it may support Valencia legal action if no correction is issued by the producers of Baila Vini.

As of now, Netflix has not responded to Valencia CF’s demands. The situation reflects broader debates about narrative responsibility in documentaries and the balance between storytelling and factual integrity when tackling sensitive issues such as racism in football.

Subscribe to our newsletter for more exclusive soccer stories, match breakdowns, and rising star features from around the world.