Barcelona apologise for board member saying Vinicius Junior is a 'clown' who needs a 'slap'

• Miquel Camps called out Real Madrid forward in now-deleted social media post
• Vinicius Junior subjected to more racist abuse during recent 1-1 draw with Sevilla
• Xavi unhappy with tweet and unnecessary tension created for Clasico

Vinicius Junior was racially abused by Sevilla fans last weekend / Fran Santiago/GettyImages

Barcelona have apologised to Vinicius Junior after a board member said he was not a victim of racist abuse but a "clown" who deserves a "slap".

A post on social media platform X from Miquel Camps, which has now been deleted, appeared after Vinicius performed a number of step-overs during Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Braga in the Champions League.

Camps wrote: "It’s not racism, he deserves a slap for being a clown. What do these unnecessary and meaningless stepovers represent in the centre of the field?”

Vinicius' teammate, Rodrygo, told reporters after the game when informed about the post: "I don't know if I can speak, they always encourage us not to speak, but it's pathetic. There's not much to say, very ugly."

Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste has since admitted that the post was "inappropriate" and promised Vinicius that it would be an isolated incident.

"Even if it was a lapse, it is a bad comment to make,” Yuste said to Spanish broadcaster Movistar. "It was a huge mistake. If Vinicius is listening to me, I can tell him this is not going to happen again."