Real Madrid Striker Vinicius Jnr. Gets Law Named After Him in Brazil

By: Gyang Dakwo

In a significant move to combat racism in sports, the Rio de Janeiro government officially named an anti-racism law after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jnr.

The law, known as the “Vini Jr law,” mandates the suspensions or cessation of sporting events in response to incidents of racist behavior.

This decision comes in the wake of a distressing incident involving the talented Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius, who was subjected to racial abuse by fans during a match between Madrid and Valencia in May.

Shockingly, this marked the tenth occurrence of racial abuse targeting the 22-year-old player reported by LaLiga, Spain’s top-tier football league, to prosecutors throughout the 2022-23 season.

According to local Brazilian media reports, the inspiration for this law stemmed from Vincius’ response to the racial abuse he endured at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium.

During that particular match, the game was halted for several minutes as Vinivius bravely pointed out the individuals responsible for racially abusing him from the stands.

The “Vini Jr law,” which received unanimous approval from the Rio government in June, includes comprehensive guidelines on the procedure for addressing racism-related complaints and mandates educational campaigns to raise awareness about the issue.