The Parliament of the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro has approved a bill allowing the temporary suspension or even permanent suspension of football matches in the event of racist acts in stadiums.
Rio de Janeiro’s state legislature approved on Tuesday Vinicius Junior’s so-called Regional Policy to Combat Racism in Sports Stadiums and Arenas, as well as the award of the Tiradentes Medal to a Real Madrid player from Brazil.
Vinicius Junior, who was born in the suburbs of the city of Rio de Janeiro, suffered from racist acts throughout the last season of the Spanish League, the highlight of which was the game played in Valencia at the Mestalla stadium on May 21. .
The entry into force of the law now depends on the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Claudio Castro, who has 15 days to approve it or veto it.
The proposal provides that matches may be stopped when complaints or racist demonstrations are registered.
“The suspension will last as long as the organizer of the event or the delegate of the match deems it necessary, and until overtly racist sentiment has ceased,” Parliament said in a statement.
In the event of attacks or racist demonstrations promoted by groups or repetitive parties, the game may be suspended permanently, “on the possibility to be communicated to the referee by the event organization or the game delegate”.
These measures are part of the so-called Anti-Racism Protocol, which allows any fan to report racist behavior to the authorities present at the stadium and report it immediately to the event organizers and referees.
“We are the first legislature in the country to pass a bill to combat racism in stadiums and we are proud of it. We must end this cancer once and for all,” said MP Josémar Pinheiro de Carvalho, the author of the bill. .
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) was the first football federation in the world to impose sanctions, such as the loss of points, on teams that commit acts of racism.
Reports of racism in stadiums in Brazil increased by 40% in 2022, according to data from the Observatory of Racial Discrimination in Brazilian Football.
On Monday, the Spanish Commission against Violence approved a proposal to impose a fine of 60,001 euros on four people guilty of hanging a doll in a shirt Vinicius Junior on the bridge on January 26.
The commission also proposed a €5,000 fine and a one-year ban on access to sports facilities for those responsible for the racist gestures also directed against Vinicius in the game against Valencia on 21 May.
On the same day, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF, its Spanish acronym) announced that Spain and Brazil will play a private football match against racism in March 2024 under the slogan “One Skin”.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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