FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed solidarity with Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr after he was racially abused by Valencia fans on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Brazilian player was sent off for violent conduct during Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat, following an altercation with Valencia’s Hugo Duro. Prior to the incident, Vinicius had tried to bring the racist behaviour of Valencia fans to the attention of the referee.
Infantino, who previously supported Vinicius in March after a similar racist incident, released a statement on Sunday, stating, “Full solidarity to Vinicius. There is no place for racism in football or in society, and FIFA stands by all players who have found themselves in such a situation. The events during the match between Valencia and Real Madrid demonstrate the urgent need for action.”
Infantino also highlighted the three-step process used in FIFA competitions to address racism, emphasising its recommendation at all levels of football.
The process involves stopping the match, announcing the situation, and, if the attacks continue, ultimately suspending the match and awarding the three points to the opponent. Infantino urged the implementation of these rules in all countries and leagues and emphasized the importance of supporting them through education.
Meanwhile, Vinicius himself has continued to criticise La Liga. In an Instagram post, he wrote, “The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano, and Messi today belongs to racists. Racism is normal in La Liga. The competition thinks it’s normal, the federation does too, and the opponents encourage it.”
He expressed his disappointment in the image being projected by Spain as a racist country and vowed to fight against racism.
