FIFA President Gianni Infantino has met Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior, the victim of several shocking racism incidents while playing for his club this season.
President Infantino also met the Brazilian national team and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) President, Ednaldo Rodrigues.
The purpose of the meeting was to set up a task force which will work with FIFA to make specific recommendations, with Vinícius Júnior taking a prominent role.
The President said that match officials must stop a match when players were subject to abuse.
I asked Vinicius to lead this group of players that will present stricter punishments against racism that will later be implemented by all football authorities around the world. We need to hear the players and what they need to work in a safer environment. We are very serious about it.
We will implement very blunt and strong punishments to end once and for all with the problem of racism in football. We can’t tolerate racism anymore. As president of FIFA, I feel I needed to talk personally with Vinicius about it.”
Infantino said they introduced a social media protection service at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to defend players from hate speech. He emphasized that they must identify and charge racists. He enjoined that officials must stop games when there is a racist incident.
Source: FIFA
