The lights that glows the Christo Redentor statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has been put off in solidarity of Vinicius Jr.
The Christo Redentor translated as “Christ the Redeemer” statue which is 125 foot long situated on a mountain that overlooks Rio, Brazil, is of great significance to Brazillians.
This evening, the statue did not glow in light as it traditionally does. This has a great significance as it is been done to rally the support of Brazil behind Vinicius Jr. who has been a victim of racist attacks at Mastella yesterday in a match between Real Madrid and Valencia.
The Brazilian and Real Madrid winger yesterday at the Mastalla was sent off the pitch after a VAR decision by Referee De Burgos Bengoechea which warranted a red card following a brawl between him and Valencia player Hugo Duro as tempers flared over racist chants from the home supporters.
This has been followed by a call from the Football community across the globe for an end to racism and the VAR Referee and five other Referees have been fired following an image that was cut which led to the erroneous decision by the main Referee to show Vinicius Jr. a red card.
The iconic Christ the Redeemer statue tonight stands strong in gloom as the lights have been turned off. In September 2014, the light projected on the statue with a man was done to mark a fight against human trafficking in Brazil. Today it is rather telling a different story.
According to the BBC, the original idea for the erection of a monument of Jesus Christ originated from a group of Brazilians who, “in the wake of World War I, feared an advancing tide of Godlessness.” The Church and state had been separated when Brazil became a republic at the end of the previous century, and they perceived the statue as a way of reclaiming Rio — then Brazil’s capital city — for Christianity.