AFP
Wed, May 24, 2023
Vinicius Junior was racially abused during Real Madrid's match against Valencia at the weekend
The United Nations rights chief decried Wednesday the racist attacks on Brazilian footballer Vinicius Junior during a match in Spain, urging concerted efforts to root racism out of sports.
"We are calling on all those organised sport events everywhere in the world to counter and combat and prevent racism," Volker Turk told reporters in Geneva.
His comments came after 22-year-old Real Madrid forward Vinicius was targeted with shouts of "monkey" from the stands during a match in Valencia on Sunday -- the latest in a series of racist attacks against him.
Turk said it was "a stark reminder of the prevalence of racism in sport".
He hailed the "very strong reaction from the authorities", pointing out that "they started arresting people very quickly afterwards".
"An investigation has to happen. It's clear that it's an affair that will preoccupy the judiciary."
He stressed, though, that "those who organise sports events take that issue very seriously".
Turk highlighted the many positive aspects of sports, for instance in building communities.
But, he said, "we need to deal with the shadow side as well."
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said he had asked his office to prepare a policy brief looking into the issue of racism in sports.
"We need to have a hard look at human rights and sports from a wide range of perspectives," he said.
"We want to put forward a number of clear ideas of human rights standards in sport events," he said, pointing to issues around participation, inclusion and "fighting stigmatisation, racism".
"We have seen discrimination on a wide range of issues, including gender discrimination and discrimination against LGBTI people as well who participate in sports events," Turk said.
It must be made absolutely clear, he said, that "racism is totally unacceptable".
He said everyone in society should think about how they act.
"Do I have bias?... How do I react when I see someone else making a racist slur?... Do I deal with it, do I respond to it?"
"We need to find ways and means to eradicate it entirely in the 21st century. It requires everyone to be onboard."
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Madrid supports Vinicius after racist abuse, global outrage continues
Issued on: 24/05/2023 -
Madrid (AFP) – Vinicius Junior's Real Madrid team-mates showed him support after he was racially abused by wearing his number 20 shirt before their La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Brazilian winger was present at the Santiago Bernabeu although not part of the squad for the game because of a knee problem, and his colleagues applauded him as he watched from the side of the pitch.
Vinicius faced off with a supporter at Valencia's Mestalla stadium on Sunday after being abused during the match, and was later sent off for hitting Hugo Duro.
However the Spanish football federation's Competition Committee revoked his red card late Tuesday because some images from the VAR video were not shown to the referee who sent him off.
Valencia had the south stand of Mestalla shut for five matches as punishment for the racist abuse, which they said they will appeal against.
A banner in one stand read "We are all Vinicius, enough already!" while players held up another message reading "Racists, out of football", as part of a joint campaign from the federation and La Liga.
After 20 minutes supporters around the stadium chanted "Vini, Vini" and applauded, with Vinicius standing up and applauding them back, returning their support with a thumbs up.
The Brazilian winger watched the game from Madrid's presidential box, alongside chief Florentino Perez.
Vinicius may return to action for Madrid on Saturday when Los Blancos visit Europa League finalists Sevilla.
Condemnation
Sports personalities and government figures across the world continued to show their support to Vinicius.
The United States condemned the racists chants made against Vinicius, labelling them "horrific".
"I saw the chants directed at Vinicius Junior. They were obviously horrific," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
"I know that Spanish authorities, I believe, have taken action against them," he said.
"We condemn racism around the world wherever it takes place, including in sports, and applaud any efforts to ferret it out and fight against it."
Three youths were arrested over the episode in Valencia and four men were arrested in Madrid both on Tuesday after an effigy of Vinicius was hung from a bridge in January.
Earlier on the United Nations rights chief criticised the attacks on the Brazilian star.
"We are calling on all those organised sport events everywhere in the world to counter and combat and prevent racism," Volker Turk told reporters in Geneva.
England national team manager Gareth Southgate said he thought the incident might finally force change.
"It's a disgusting situation, I think it's so bad that actually it is going to force change," the coach told a news conference.
"It has taken a central story, not only in Europe but around the world, and it will force change.
"It is another example of what we are dealing with and another example of people burying their heads in the
Issued on: 24/05/2023 -
Madrid (AFP) – Vinicius Junior's Real Madrid team-mates showed him support after he was racially abused by wearing his number 20 shirt before their La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old Brazilian winger was present at the Santiago Bernabeu although not part of the squad for the game because of a knee problem, and his colleagues applauded him as he watched from the side of the pitch.
Vinicius faced off with a supporter at Valencia's Mestalla stadium on Sunday after being abused during the match, and was later sent off for hitting Hugo Duro.
However the Spanish football federation's Competition Committee revoked his red card late Tuesday because some images from the VAR video were not shown to the referee who sent him off.
Valencia had the south stand of Mestalla shut for five matches as punishment for the racist abuse, which they said they will appeal against.
A banner in one stand read "We are all Vinicius, enough already!" while players held up another message reading "Racists, out of football", as part of a joint campaign from the federation and La Liga.
After 20 minutes supporters around the stadium chanted "Vini, Vini" and applauded, with Vinicius standing up and applauding them back, returning their support with a thumbs up.
The Brazilian winger watched the game from Madrid's presidential box, alongside chief Florentino Perez.
Vinicius may return to action for Madrid on Saturday when Los Blancos visit Europa League finalists Sevilla.
Condemnation
Sports personalities and government figures across the world continued to show their support to Vinicius.
The United States condemned the racists chants made against Vinicius, labelling them "horrific".
"I saw the chants directed at Vinicius Junior. They were obviously horrific," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
"I know that Spanish authorities, I believe, have taken action against them," he said.
"We condemn racism around the world wherever it takes place, including in sports, and applaud any efforts to ferret it out and fight against it."
Three youths were arrested over the episode in Valencia and four men were arrested in Madrid both on Tuesday after an effigy of Vinicius was hung from a bridge in January.
Earlier on the United Nations rights chief criticised the attacks on the Brazilian star.
"We are calling on all those organised sport events everywhere in the world to counter and combat and prevent racism," Volker Turk told reporters in Geneva.
England national team manager Gareth Southgate said he thought the incident might finally force change.
"It's a disgusting situation, I think it's so bad that actually it is going to force change," the coach told a news conference.
"It has taken a central story, not only in Europe but around the world, and it will force change.
"It is another example of what we are dealing with and another example of people burying their heads in the
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