Joelinton experienced racist abuse on social media after Newcastle United’s game against Arsenal

Joelinton has opened up about his experience with racism in football.

The Newcastle United player disclosed in a press conference that, whilst he has never experienced racism on the pitch, after the club’s home game against Arsenal he received ‘racist insults’ on social media.

Speaking from his home country of Brazil, ahead of the national team’s friendly against Guinea and Senegal, Joelinton was candid about his experiences.

“It’s an important moment to speak about racism,” the midfielder said. “We have been talking about it for a long time, still many things need to be changed. We talk about a combat against racism... but we didn’t have much of a change.

“This (racism) is not something happening now, but for a long time. And at the 21st Century, we still see things like that. It’s hard to accept and believe we are evolving when things like that still happen.”

When asked if he had ever experienced racism on the pitch he said: “Not on the pitch, no. But after the match against Arsenal, playing at home, I have received some messages with racist insults. But... it’s gone. It didn’t affect me.”

These comments come in the wake of Joelinton’s fellow countryman and Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr hitting out at La Liga football fans for shouting racist abuse during a match.

“The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano and Messi today belongs to racists,” Vinicius Jr said.

“It wasn’t the first time, nor the second, nor the third. Racism is normal in La Liga. The competition thinks it’s normal, the federation does too and the opponents encourage it.

“A beautiful nation, which welcomed me and which I love, but which agreed to export the image of a racist country to the world. I’m sorry for the Spaniards who don’t agree, but today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists.

“And unfortunately, for everything that happens each week, I have no defence. I agree. But I am strong and I will go to the end against racists. Even if it’s far from here.”