Brazil forward, Vinicus Jr. is demanding security camera footage of an alleged racial abuse against his friend Felipe Silveira by security at the Cornellà-El Prat Stadium, in Barcelona yesterday.
In an international friendly between the third-ranked FIFA team, Brazil, and African side Guinea which ended 4-1 respectively, friend and advisor of Vinicius Jr., Felipe Silveira, was allegedly abused by security personnel who searched him at the entrance of Cornellà-El Prat Stadium, in Barcelona, Spain.
Vinicius Jr. condemned the racial abuse and lamented the racial treatment meted out to blacks, which others seem not to believe.
He labeled racial incidents on the blindside disgusting, and he has demanded that the security footage be released in order to make the incident in question public
“While I was playing with the already historic black shirt and getting emotional, my friend was humiliated and mocked at the entrance to the stadium. The treatment was sad, at all times they doubted the surreal scene that happened. Backstage is disgusting. But to make everything public, I ask those responsible: where are the security camera footage?” He tweeted
27-year-old Felipe Silveria and his friends vent their displeasure over the conduct of security personnel who checked Silveira at the entrance of the stadium during the international friendly.
The security officer was alleged to have searched Silveria, took a banana out of his pocket, and said, “Hands up, this one is my pistol for you.”
This incident contradicts the advocacy stance taken against racism in the game. Brazil wore a black kit, which is a departure from their traditional blue and yellow kit. It was symbolic of their fight against racism. Both teams took a knee before the kickoff and stood before a banner with the inscription, “With racism, there is no game.”
Vinicius Jr., who was racially abused by Valencia fans, has been appointed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to a committee that shall spell out severe penalties to be meted out for discriminatory behavior.