In a move to combat racism, the Rio de Janeiro government introduced a law on Wednesday, bestowing upon it the name of Real Madrid forward Vinícius Jr. According to this law, sporting events will be halted or suspended in response to any form of racist behavior.
Approved by the Rio government with unanimous consent in June, the ‘Vini Jr law’ encompasses a detailed procedure for addressing racism complaints and mandates the implementation of educational campaigns.
In May, during a match against Valencia, Brazillian forward Vinícius was a victim of racial abuse from fans, marking the tenth incident involving the 22-year-old that La Liga has reported to prosecutors this season.
The player’s reaction to the incident at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium, where the game was paused for a few minutes as Vinícius identified and pointed out the perpetrators of racial abuse in the stands, prompted the law’s enactment.
‘Today is a very special day and I hope my family is very proud,’ Vinícius stated at a ceremony at Brazil’s biggest stadium, Maracanã Stadium.
‘I am very young and I didn’t expect that I would be receiving this tribute.’
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It was reported that Vinícius received awards from Rio’s legislative assembly and city council, in addition to having his footprints included in the stadium’s hall of Fame, joining the ranks of legendary Brazilian footballers like Pelé, Garrincha, and Ronaldo Nazário.
‘Sometimes, I wonder if I deserve so much,’ he added. ‘I didn’t expect so many awards and to receive all this affection at the Maracanã, where I attended and played so many Flamengo matches.’
The Secretary for Sports in Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Picciani, expressed his deep respect for Vinícius Jr, emphasising that it was an esteemed privilege to celebrate ‘a beloved figure of Brazilian football, who was born and bred in Rio de Janeiro.’
‘In addition to all his football career achievements, Vinícius has also become a symbol of the fight against racism.’
The commendable measures taken by sports governing bodies to combat racism in sports recognize its destructive impact on the mental well-being of promising athletes. This law aims to hold fans responsible for their racist behavior, bringing about order and justice.