{"id":81742,"date":"2023-07-06T14:21:28","date_gmt":"2023-07-06T14:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/07\/06\/rio-de-janeiro-govt-names-anti-racism-law-after-vinicius-jr\/"},"modified":"2023-07-06T14:21:28","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T14:21:28","slug":"rio-de-janeiro-govt-names-anti-racism-law-after-vinicius-jr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/07\/06\/rio-de-janeiro-govt-names-anti-racism-law-after-vinicius-jr\/","title":{"rendered":"Rio de Janeiro govt names anti-racism law after Vinicius Jr"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Vinicius Jr (centre) and his Brazil team-mates wore black kits for the first half of last month’s friendly against Guinea while mascots wore t-shirts that read ‘with racism there is no game’
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The Rio de Janeiro government has named an anti-racism law in honour of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr.<\/p>\n

The \u2018Vini Jr law\u2019, unanimously approved by the Rio government in June, will see sporting events stopped or suspended in the event of racist conduct.<\/p>\n

Vinicius, 22, was\u00a0racially abused several times last season.<\/p>\n

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\u201cToday is a very special day and I hope my family is very proud,\u201d he said at a ceremony at the Maracana Stadium, where he made his senior debut for Flamengo.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very young and I didn\u2019t expect that I would be receiving this tribute.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local media said the law was inspired by Vinicius\u2019 response to being racially abused during\u00a0a game at Valencia in May,\u00a0which was stopped as the player pointed out those responsible.<\/p>\n

The law includes protocol on how to process complaints of racism and mandatory educational campaigns.<\/p>\n

Vinicius also received awards from Rio\u2019s legislative assembly and city council and his footprints were added to the stadium\u2019s walk of fame, beside those of Brazilian greats such as Pele, Garrincha and Ronaldo.<\/p>\n

Rio\u2019s secretary for sports, Rafael Picciani, said it was an honour to pay tribute to \u201can idol of Brazilian football, born and raised in Rio de Janeiro\u201d.<\/p>\n

Vinicius has been asked to\u00a0lead a special Fifa anti-racism committee\u00a0made up of players.<\/p>\n

His most recent games were in post-season friendlies for Brazil against Guinea and Senegal, which were organised as part of an anti-racism campaign, which will continue with a\u00a0friendly against Spain at Real\u2019s Bernabeu stadium\u00a0next March.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes I wonder if I deserve so much,\u201d added Vinicius, who moved from Flamengo to Real in 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t expect so many awards and to receive all this affection at the Maracana, where I attended and played so many Flamengo matches.\u201d<\/p>\n

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