Brazil: Lights Go Out for Christ the Redeemer Statue in Support of Vinicius Jr. After He Was Subjected to a Racist Attack

By Rick Martin First Posted: May 23, 2023 09:53 PM EDT

Brazilian soccer superstar Vinicius Jr. of Real Madrid is one of the best in the world. However, he was subjected to a racist attack in Spain, and Brazil is showing solidarity with one of their biggest sports stars as the lights go out in the Christ the Redeemer statue.

Racial slurs were hurled toward the Real Madrid star during a La Liga match against Valencia last Sunday. He has been subjected to racial attacks for years and has even criticized the Spanish league for it.

With one of the soccer-crazy country's biggest stars under attack, Brazil answered by turning the lights off at Christ the Redeemer, one of the country's most well-known national symbols. The lights went out at around 6:00 pm local time, according to Reuters.

The move was carried out by the Archdiocesan Sanctuary, which manages the iconic monument. It was done in cooperation with the Brazilian FA and the Observatory of Racial Discrimination in Football.

The Archdiocesan Sanctuary released a statement on social media saying, "The Christ the Redeemer Archdiocesan Sanctuary repudiates the racist attacks suffered by the Brazilian player Vinicius Junior."

It then explained why they turned the lights off, "The lighting of the monument will be switched off as a symbol of the collective fight against racism and in solidarity with the player and all those who suffer prejudice around the world."

The Brazilian wingman later tweeted a photo of the iconic statue being only illuminated by the moon and expressed his thanks for the solidarity.

Spain Arrests 4 People in Connection to Racist Attack Against Vinicius Jr. Last January

The racist attack last Sunday on the Brazilian was the latest in a series of racial attacks aimed at Vinicius Jr. A previous one involved a hanging effigy of Vinicius Jr. in Madrid which featured the Real Madrid star being hanged by the neck as his team met cross-town rivals, Atletico Madrid. There was also a "Madrid hates Real" banner underneath the effigy.

Four men have now been arrested in connection to that January racist attack, according to The Independent. This came just a few days after several Valencia fans hurled racial slurs at the Brazilian winger. Incidents such as these have become so regular that Vinicius Jr. has stated that Spanish football "belongs to racists."

Real Madrid has since filed a hate crime complaint for each of these racial attacks on their star player. Three men have since been arrested for shouting racial slurs against the Real winger.

Brazil President Lula Shows Solidarity with Vinicius Jr.

With last Sunday's racist controversy hounding Spanish football, Brazilian President Lula also reacted to Spaniards attacking a fellow Brazilian. He released a statement in Portuguese.

"It is not fair that a poor young man who succeeded in life and who is becoming one of the best footballers [in the world]. We cannot allow fascism and racism to take over football stadiums," it read.

According to Football Espana, several other Brazilian politicians joined in condemning these racist attacks on their soccer star.

Brazil's Ministry of Racial Equality put out its own statement that read, "We repudiate a new racist attack against Vini Jr. We will notify the Spanish authorities and La Liga. The Brazilian government will not tolerate racism here or outside of Brazil!"

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Racism in La Liga condemned after Vinícius Júnior faces abuse - Guardian Football