Rio de Janeiro Government Enacts 'Vini Jr Law' to Combat Racism in Sports

 Rio de Janeiro Government Enacts 'Vini Jr Law' to Combat Racism in Sports

Rio de Janeiro Government Enacts 'Vini Jr Law' to Combat Racism in Sports(Getty)

The Rio de Janeiro government introduced a legislation aimed at combating racism, which has been named after Vinicius Jr, the forward for Real Madrid. The law mandates the suspension or interruption of sporting events in the event of racist behavior.

Vinicius, who plays for Brazil, has been subjected to racial abuse by fans on multiple occasions, with LaLiga reporting ten such incidents involving the 22-year-old to prosecutors during the season.

According to local media, the law was inspired by Vinicius' response to the incident at Valencia's Mestalla stadium. During the game, play was halted for several minutes as Vinicius pointed out the individuals racially abusing him in the stands.

Known as the 'Vini Jr law', it was unanimously approved by the Rio government in June. The legislation includes guidelines on handling racism complaints and the implementation of mandatory educational campaigns.

During a ceremony at the Maracana Stadium, where Vinicius made his senior debut for Flamengo in 2017, he expressed his gratitude, saying, "Today is a very special day, and I hope my family is very proud. I am very young, and I didn't expect to receive this tribute."

In addition to the legislation, Vinicius received awards from Rio's legislative assembly and city council. His footprints were also added to the stadium's Walk of Fame alongside other Brazilian legends like Pele, Garrincha, and Ronaldo.

Reflecting on the recognition, Vinicius humbly remarked, "Sometimes I wonder if I deserve so much. I didn't expect to receive so many awards and so much affection at the Maracana, where I have attended and played so many Flamengo matches."

Rafael Picciani, Rio de Janeiro's Secretary for Sports, expressed his honor in paying tribute to "an idol of Brazilian football, born and raised in Rio de Janeiro." He added that Vinicius has become a symbol of the fight against racism in addition to his achievements in football.