Can football stop the hate? A talented young player touched the world's heart after he broke down in tears at a press conference, following years of racist abuse.
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Tears of a sports genius hounded for his race
Can football stop the hate? A talented young player touched the world's heart after he broke down in tears at a press conference, following years of racist abuse.
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What's happening?
He is an extremely talented football player. At just 23 years old, Vinicius Junior is a winger for La Liga club Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team. He is considered one of the greatest talents in the world.
He is perhaps the last person you might expect to see breaking down in tears in front of the press. But the star player has admitted that he has considered giving up football after recent racistBelieving that a person's skin colour makes them better than others. abuse.
"I just want to play football but it's hard to move forward... I feel less and less like playing," he sayid, in tears. "But I will stay, because that way the racists can continue to see my face more and more."
Vinicius has experienced 10 episodes of aggressive racist abuse that have been reported to prosecutorsofficials responsible for investigating crime by La Liga.
The problem exists in every level of football, in every country. Only 3.9% of coaches in Europe's 14 biggest leagues come from an ethnic minority background.
Sometimes, sports can help us to create a better world. In 1995, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup over New Zealand just four years after the end of apartheidA system of legally-enshrined racial discrimination and oppression which existed in South Africa from 1948 until the 1990s. It denied non-white South Africans basic human rights. under the slogan "One Team, One Country."
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But sport can also give a platform to deep-rooted prejudiceAn idea about something, especially a group of people, that is not based on reality. .
What can be done? FIFAThe Federation Internationale de Football Association is the world's highest governing body of association football.'s president Gianni Infantino has called for teams to lose games if their fans take part in racist abuse. He has also suggested worldwide stadium bans for fans who commit acts of racism.
But some say that since the problem goes deeper than football, so should the solution. As long as there is racism in society, it will surface in sports.
Can football stop the hate?
Yes! Racist football fans need to know that not will they be punished, but their team will suffer for their actions.
No! Racism in football will continue for as long as there is racism in society, and getting rid of it will be a long, uphill battle.
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Keywords
Racist - Believing that a person's skin colour makes them better than others.
prosecutors - officials responsible for investigating crime
Apartheid - A system of legally-enshrined racial discrimination and oppression which existed in South Africa from 1948 until the 1990s. It denied non-white South Africans basic human rights.
Prejudice - An idea about something, especially a group of people, that is not based on reality.
Fifa - The Federation Internationale de Football Association is the world's highest governing body of association football.
Tears of a sports genius hounded for his race
Staying strong: Famous for his pace and dribbling ability, Vinícius Júnior says will not give in to racism. Glossary
Racist - Believing that a person's skin colour makes them better than others.
prosecutors - officials responsible for investigating crime
Apartheid - A system of legally-enshrined racial discrimination and oppression which existed in South Africa from 1948 until the 1990s. It denied non-white South Africans basic human rights.
Prejudice - An idea about something, especially a group of people, that is not based on reality.
Fifa - The Federation Internationale de Football Association is the world's highest governing body of association football.