The government denounces the racist attacks on Vinny Jr. The Spanish authorities and FIFA are requested to take action Policy

On Monday (22nd), the government of Luis Inácio Lula da Silva issued a memorandum “denouncing in the strongest terms” the racist attacks against the Brazilian player Vinicius Junior, the Real Madrid player, in the La Liga matches.

The statement was jointly signed by the Departments of State, Racial Equality, Sports, Human Rights and Citizenship.

In the text, the government called on “governmental and sports authorities in Spain” to take measures to punish the perpetrators of racism and prevent its recurrence.

The Brazilian government mentions by name, in the memorandum, FIFA, the Spanish Federation and “LaLiga”, as the first division of the Spanish championship is known.

Andréia Sadi’s blog reports that Itamaraty will contact the Spanish ambassador to Brazil, Mar Fernández-Palacios, for clarifications after this Sunday (21) racist episode, in which Vini Jr. Valencia fans nicknamed him “The Monkey”.

From Japan, until Sunday evening (Brazilian time), President Lula (PT) expressed his solidarity with the player, calling for action by the Spanish football authorities.

“It is important that FIFA and La Liga take serious action, because we cannot allow fascism and racism to take over football stadiums,” said Lula.

On May 10, Brazil and Spain signed a bilateral agreement to combat racism and xenophobia.

Read the full statement of denial from the Brazilian government below:

“The Brazilian government rejects, in the strongest terms, the racist attacks that Brazilian athlete Vinicius Jr. has been subjected to repeatedly in Spain.

Bearing in mind the seriousness of the facts and the occurrence of another unacceptable episode, in one of the matches that took place yesterday in that country, the Brazilian Government expresses its deep regret that effective measures have not yet been taken to prevent and avoid the recurrence of these events. racist acts.

Urges the governmental and sporting authorities in Spain to take the necessary measures to punish the perpetrators and prevent the recurrence of such acts. It also calls on the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), the Spanish Federation and the League to implement appropriate measures.

The Brazilian government worked in collaboration with the Spanish government to curb, suppress and promote policies of racial equality and share knowledge and good practices to expand access to sport for people of African descent and immigrants, with zero tolerance for any and all discriminatory practices, while supporting the improvement of international best practices to promote prevention and combating racism , as well as any kind of discrimination in the different forms of sport.”