Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior Takes Charge in FIFA's Fight Against Racism

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid has been appointed to head a FIFA anti-racism committee comprising of players who will recommend more stringent penalties for discriminatory actions in football. The committee was formed following the Brazil forward's experience of racial abuse by supporters during Madrid's match against Valencia in May. This marked the 10th time this season that LaLiga has reported similar incidents involving the 22-year-old to prosecutors.

Vinicius' participation in the FIFA anti-racism committee has been confirmed by the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino. This announcement was made after Infantino met with Vinicius and the Brazil national team who are set to play Guinea in Barcelona on Saturday as part of the Brazilian FA's (CBF) anti-racism campaign. Infantino emphasized the need to take a strong stance against racism in football, stating that games should be stopped immediately when any instance of racism occurs, and that "enough is enough".

Vinicius has been appointed to spearhead a group of players who will advocate for stricter punishments against racism. Their efforts will be instrumental in shaping the policies implemented by football authorities worldwide. The objective is to create a secure and accommodating environment for players, and Vinicius is committed to listening to their concerns and making sure they are addressed. This initiative is of utmost importance, and we are fully dedicated to making it a success."

"We need harder punishments. We can't tolerate any more racism in football. As president of FIFA, I feel I needed to talk personally with Vinicius about it."

Tebas: Vinicius abuse a turning point

Tebas, the president of LaLiga, believes that his organization could effectively address the problem of racism in Spanish football if it were given the authority to directly penalize clubs. During an interview with We News, Tebas explained that existing laws limit LaLiga's ability to take action beyond identifying and reporting incidents, resulting in infrequent punishments. He called for a new approach to address the issue.

We have a responsibility to protect our clubs and players from these kinds of illegal activities, and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement to ensure that justice is served. Our message to those involved in match-fixing is clear: we will not tolerate it in any form, and we will use every tool at our disposal to root it out and bring those responsible to justice."

We are in need of a shift in our strategy, as there have been numerous claims that require more direct action. Our goal is to have the authority to directly sanction clubs and prevent the repetition of such incidents. With this power, we can put an end to racist insults like those directed towards Vinicius within a six-month timeframe. Reporting alone is insufficient; we must take action to ensure that such behavior is not tolerated.