The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said on Wednesday (24) that racist insults against Brazilian striker Vinicius Júnior are a warning that football “organisers” need to do more to “prevent and contain the racism”.
“They (Spain) started arresting people very quickly, but we also need those who organize sporting events to take this issue very seriously,” he said. “It is more than obvious that we need to look at the issue of human rights more broadly,” Turk said.
Read more: Vini Jr.: We need anti-racist practices with exemplary punishments, on and off the field
The UN representative also stated that the intergovernmental organization will prepare a guide with protocols and recommendations for cases of racism in sports.
understand the case
Last Sunday (21), Vinicius Júnior was again the target of racist attacks in a game of the Spanish Championship, known as La Liga. In a match against Valencia, he was called “mono” (“monkey”, in Spanish) by a good part of the opposing crowd. The match was interrupted, but resumed and the Brazilian striker was expelled after reacting to an aggression. The red card was later reversed.
The racist chorus in the city of Valencia was at least the tenth episode of racial violence and hatred against the 22-year-old player since 2021. Seven people were arrested in a police operation to investigate the recurring racist attacks against the Brazilian player.
The player reacted on his social networks and received support from his coach, Carlo Ancelotti, from several players and clubs around the world, from the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes (PSD), and from the Brazilian government.
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Black movement entities held a protest in front of the Spanish Consulate, in São Paulo, in support of the player.
Editing: Nicolau Soares
