Geneva (EFE) Strategies to avoid racism in sport”.
“The racist abuse suffered by Vinicius Junior this Sunday reminds us of the prevalence of racism in sport, and I ask those who organize sporting events to implement strategies on the ground to avoid and counteract it,” Türk said at a press conference.
“Much more is needed to eradicate racial discrimination, and it must start with listening to people of African descent, involving them and taking real steps to address their main concerns,” added the Austrian high commissioner.
Türk added that in view of these incidents his office is interested in “offering guidance to sports federations” on how to put human rights standards into practice, “fight against stigmatization, racism or discrimination against the LGTBI collective”.
The high commissioner linked the attacks on Vinicius to the murder of George Floyd in the US three years ago. “It is clear that the problem of police brutality against people of African descent will not be solved until we deal with the broader problem of the systematic manifestations of racism that permeate every aspect of our lives.”
Gómez (PSPV): “There is a smear campaign against Valencia started from Madrid”
The deputy mayor of Valencia and PSPV-PSOE candidate for mayor of the city, Sandra Gómez, criticized the sanction imposed by the Competition Committee of the Spanish Federation on Valencia CF for racist insults to Vinicius Jr in the match against Real Madrid on Sunday, for being based on “issues that are not true” by generalizing that behavior and pointed out that there is “a smear campaign” started “from Madrid”.
In an interview in À Punt, Gómez expressed “first of all” his indignation “against the racists, against the people who insulted at the Mestalla and who have caused so much damage to the image of the city of Valencia”.
“Racism has to be left out of all areas, personal, family and work and of course sports. My most resounding condemnation of all those people who have so damaged the image of our city and I celebrate the quick decision (of Valencia CF) to locate and expel for life those people who do not represent Valencia or Valencianism”, he added.
But the socialist leader stressed that “Valencia is not racist, Mestalla is not racist, the Valencia fans are not racist” and stated that “there is an unfair campaign to smear” the city and that it is “a story started from Madrid” that damages the “image and reputation” of the municipality. “Valencia is going to host the Gay Games, we are an open, plural and diverse city, which promotes the values of respect”, she affirmed.
In addition, he assured that the Competition Committee in its argumentation includes “issues that are not true, such as that there was a general shout, a general insult to a player” and said that this point should be “unanimously” rejected.
