Soccer star Vinicius to lead new FIFA anti-racism task force

Brazilian soccer star Vinicius Junior is joining a new FIFA task force that will address racism in the sport.

The 22-year-old Real Madrid winger, who is Black and widely considered one of the best players in the world, was racially abused during a match against Valencia in May that resulted in steep penalties for the Spanish club and seven arrests.

Earlier this year, Madrid police investigated a possible hate crime after a life-sized effigy of Vinicius was founding hanging from a bridge ahead of a Copa del Rey tournament match between Real Madrid and crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid. He’s reported a total of 10 incidents to prosecutors since 2021.

Other Black players, like Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku, have been the subject of racial abuse across Europe in recent years, making the committee long overdue.

“I think it’s important and necessary, I embrace it,” Vinicius said.

FIFA “would set up a task force to make specific recommendations, with Vinicius Junior taking a prominent role,” the governing body said in a statement.

The head of FIFA said in the future, games would be stopped when racist abuse towards players starts.

“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 president Gianni Infantino wrote in an Instagram post. “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.

“Once and for all: No to Racism. No to any form of discrimination.”

A previous task force was started in 2013 after an incident with AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, but it was shut down in 2016.