IAmidst the controversy over Gianluca Prestiani’s alleged racist insult towards Vincius Junior, a new chapter has emerged that is directly related to an attitude that can no longer be tolerated in football stadiums.
Reports of racist gestures by young Benfica fans on social media are completely deplorable and have reignited the debate around racism in football and the urgent need for stronger action inside stadiums.
Two children make racist gestures towards the pitch
Amid the on-field controversy, at least two videos have surfaced accusing two children of making racist gestures near Anatoly Trubin’s goal.
Around the 72nd minute, when Real Madrid were about to take a corner kick, Fede Valverde himself pointed out this gesture by two children wearing Benfica shirts. The Uruguayan player approached the referee to report the incident but received no response from the referee who raised further questions about the enforcement of anti-racism protocols in European football.
Football has an anti-racism protocol that consists of three steps:
The first was the cancellation of the match, which was initially made following Vincius Jr.’s complaint. Second, if the referee acts on Valverde’s report, it could lead to a suspension of the match. Third, if the discriminatory behavior continues, soccer matches could be permanently stopped.
Images and videos circulating online show that the world of football has zero tolerance for racism and must continue to fight it. Incidents such as these highlight the continuing fight against racism in European football and the responsibility of clubs, referees and governing bodies to protect players and uphold the integrity of the game.
