The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) positively appreciated the sentence of eight months in prison, handed down in Spain, against three fans for racist insults to Vinícius Júnior, despite being a sentence it described as “soft”. “The decision is a beginning, a path forward, and shows the importance of pressure from society for the authorities to really take part in the fight against racism,” said the president of the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigueson a note.
The leader, who is in the United States to accompany the preparation of the Brazilian team for the Copa América, considers, however, that the punishment is “soft” for a “terrible” crime, because “those who suffered only racism knows the extent of the disease. “Racism will not disappear overnight. A decision of this caliber gives us more strength to continue the fight,” he said.
The sentence is the first criminal penalty applied in Spain for this type of behavior on soccer fields. It is a conformity agreement reached between the Prosecutor’s Office, the accusations and the defense, which was ratified this Monday in a court in Valencia, indicating that the accused will not go to prison because the suspension of the prison sentence is included in agreement.
The events took place on May 21, 2023 in a Spanish League match between Valencia and Real Madrid, played at the Mestalla stadium. The episode generated a strong reaction from the highest authorities in Brazil, including that of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This Monday, the Brazilian Minister of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, said on social networks that “the sentence is a solid step in the fight against racism.”
For his part, Vinícius Júnior, who focused on Canarinha in the US, celebrated the decision against the Valencia fans and said that he does not feel like a victim of racism, but rather “the executioner of racists.” “This first criminal conviction in the history of Spain is not for me. It is for all black people. Let the other racists be afraid, ashamed and hide in the shadows,” he indicated to his social networks.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
