Brazil Approves "Vinicius Jr Law" Against Racism In Law

In response to the disgraceful racist abuse suffered by Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, legislators in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro have passed a groundbreaking law aimed at curbing such incidents during football matches.

The law, unanimously approved by the legislative assembly, will now be sent to the governor for final approval.

State deputy Prof. Josemar, who drafted the legislation, highlighted the urgent need to address the issue of racism in football stadiums.

The repeated targeting of Vinicius Junior, a native of Rio de Janeiro, by racist individuals during matches in Spain prompted the drafting of this law. Josemar emphasized that the treatment of the talented winger "reinforced the need to create a policy to encourage respect, as well as a protocol to combat racism in stadiums."

Commonly referred to as "Vini Jr's Law" by its supporters, the legislation outlines specific measures to be taken in the event of a complaint or proven racist behaviour.

According to the text, matches will be temporarily halted or suspended if incidents of racism are reported or repeated, especially if they are carried out by organized groups. Furthermore, the law enables anyone to report suspected racist acts to the authorities.

Vinicius Junior, who hails from Sao Goncalo, Rio de Janeiro, has risen to prominence as one of LaLiga's most formidable players since his transfer from Flamengo in 2018 for a staggering fee of €46 million ($50 million). With his exceptional skill set, rare dribbling ability, and remarkable speed, Vinicius has become a key player for Real Madrid.

Unfortunately, the talented winger has been subjected to recurrent racist abuse. Following an incident at Valencia's Mestalla stadium in May, Vinicius expressed his frustration, stating that Spain "belongs to racists" and that his homeland views the country as racist. The incident sparked widespread criticism of the culture within Spanish football and the authorities' handling of discrimination cases.

The mistreatment of Vinicius prompted various forms of protest and support. In Rio de Janeiro, the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue was left unilluminated in solidarity with the star's plight. Additionally, Brazil filed a formal complaint with the Spanish ambassador, and in the Spanish capital, four fans of Real's rival club, Atletico Madrid, were arrested for hanging an effigy of Vinicius from a bridge.