In a landmark development, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed support for the jail terms handed to the individuals who racially abused Real Madrid forward Vinícius Junior (Vini Jr).
Vini Jr was racially abused during a La Liga match in May 2023, in which Real Madrid lost 1-0 to Valencia at the Mestalla. Three fans have been sentenced to eight months in prison and banned from stadiums for two years for their actions.
Reacting to the sentencing, Gianni Infantino praised the Spanish courts’ judgement, highlighting that it is a positive step towards eradicating racism in football.
“I am pleased to see the firm action and sentencing taken by the Spanish authorities in relation to the racist abuse directed at Vinícius Jr in a Spanish La Liga match in May 2023. This is a positive step,” said the FIFA President in a statement.
Infantino reiterated FIFA’s strong stance against racism, emphasizing the need to completely remove racists from football.
“As I reiterated clearly at the recent FIFA Congress in Bangkok, we can no longer accept what is happening in stadiums and on the pitch. Our message to people anywhere in the world who still behave in a racist way when they are dealing with football is clear: we don’t want you. These people have to be excluded, they are not part of our community and not part of football,” he stated.
The sentencing is expected to serve as a deterrent to potential offenders, reinforcing the message that racism has no place in football.
