FIFA president Gianni Infantino has affirmed FIFA’s commitment to fight racism in football. Infantino told the media that he met Vinicius Jr in Spain and that the 23-year-old had agreed to join a task force created to fight racism in football.
Infantino said:
“We want to identify racists in stadiums and across social media. They are criminals. We have to fight against them away from stadiums. They have to be banned from stadiums across the globe. The authorities need to take these people to court and we will say this to all of them. Racism is a crime.
“We will also strengthen the engagement with players on this crucial topic so I am glad Vinícius Júnior accepted to be part of a task force which will include other important players and will elaborate concrete and efficient measures to end racism in football once and for all.”
Infantino supported the winger and the Brazilian Football Confederation, describing racism as “society’s problem.”
He added:
“It’s very important not just to talk about racism and discrimination, but to take action in a decisive and convincing manner – zero tolerance.
“FIFA is together with the Brazilian Football Confederation and with all the players in this fight. It’s important to introduce sporting sanctions and I congratulate CBF for having done so already.”
“There is no football if there is racism! So let’s stop the games,” he said. “The referees have this opportunity in FIFA competitions as we have this process for stopping the game, and actions have to be taken at every level, at national level as well. Everyone has to understand this and we will go, together, until the end.”
‘It’s society’s problem, therefore, it’s fine in football.’ In the world of football, we must act in a very forceful way.”
