FIFA President reacts to Vinicius racism incident – “Shocked and saddened”
· Yahoo Sports
The footballing world is still reeling from the events that unfolded during Real Madrid’s recent Champions League clash against SL Benfica.
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Following the alleged racial abuse directed at Vinícius Junior, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has now publicly addressed the situation.
Through a statement released on his social media, the head of world football’s governing body expressed his deep dismay over the scenes witnessed in Lisbon.
What Infantino said about the Vinicius incident
The FIFA president shared his statement on an Instagram post, admitting he is shocked and saddened by the incident.
“I was shocked and saddened to see the incident of alleged racism towards Vinícius Júnior in the UEFA Champions League match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF,” he wrote.
“There is absolutely no room for racism in our sport and in society – we need all the relevant stakeholders to take action and hold those responsible to account,” he added.
Infantino statement on Vinicius racism incident. (Photo: Instagram)
This comes shortly after UEFA’s statement on the incident, with the governing body showcasing dismay and disbelief.
Infantino went on to highlight some of the mechanisms that are in place to combat racism in football, even though they seem to have worked in Spanish football.
“At FIFA, through the Global Stand Against Racism and the Players’ Voice Panel, we are committed to ensuring that players, officials and fans are respected and protected, and that appropriate action is taken when incidents occur,” he said.
Infantino also took the opportunity to specifically praise the match official for his handling of the tense situation on the pitch.
“I commend referee François Letexier for activating the anti-racism protocol by using the arm gesture to stop the game and address the situation,” he noted.
Finally, Infantino assured the Brazilian star of the wider footballing community’s support.
“FIFA and football show full solidarity to victims of racism and any form of discrimination. I will always continue to reiterate: No to racism! No to any form of discrimination!” he concluded.