GENEVA – The International Federation of Football Associations – Fifa President, Gianni Infantino met Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior on Thursday – insisting that the sport had a brink feature in the wake of discrimination.
Infantino also met the Brazilian national team and the Brazilian Football Confederation – CBF President Ednaldo Rodrigues to discuss setting up a task force against racism in football, and the President vowed Brazil international forward Vinicius would take a prominent role.
Vinicius Junior, 22, is a victim of several racism incidents this season and the latest one was in May when he was racially abused by fans when Real Madrid played away to Valencia.
“There is no football if there is racism!” proclaimed Infantino.
“It’s very important not just to talk about racism and discrimination, but to take action in a decisive and convincing manner – zero tolerance,” said Infantino after the meeting in Barcelona, Spain.
“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.”
- Agencies