Lights exit at Rio’s Christ the Redeemer in assist of Vinicius Jr

The lights on Rio de Janeiro’s iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer have been switched off for an hour on Monday night in a present of solidarity with Vinicius Jr after the Brazil forward was racially abused all through a membership match in Spain.

The lights have been turned off at 1800 native time to cap a day when the Brazilian authorities and the world of soccer united to condemn the racial slurs aimed on the Real Madrid participant all through a Spanish league match on Sunday.

The Archdiocesan Sanctuary that manages the monument carried out the act in cooperation with the Brazilian FA and the Observatory of Racial Discrimination in Football.

Preto e imponente. O Cristo Redentor ficou assim há pouco. Uma ação de solidariedade que me emociona. Mas quero, sobretudo, inspirar e trazer mais luz à nossa luta.

Agradeço demais toda a corrente de carinho e apoio que recebi nos últimos meses. Tanto no Brasil quanto mundo… pic.twitter.com/zVBcD4eF8k

— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) May 22, 2023

“The Christ the Redeemer Archdiocesan Sanctuary repudiates the racist attacks suffered by the Brazilian player Vinicius Junior,” the physique talked about in an Instagram publish.

“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.”

A cada rodada fora de casa uma surpresa desagradável. E foram muitas nessa temporada. Desejos de morte, boneco enforcado, muitos gritos criminosos… Tudo registrado.

Mas o discurso sempre cai em “casos isolados”, “um torcedor”. Não, não são casos isolados. São episódios… pic.twitter.com/aSCMrt0CR8

— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) May 22, 2023

Earlier on Monday, the Brazilian authorities known as on Spanish and sports activities actions authorities earlier to punish these answerable for the “racist attacks” in direction of the participant, whereas the president of soccer’s governing physique FIFA Gianni Infantino expressed his solidarity.

Other sporting figures resembling Kylian Mbappe, Rio Ferdinand, and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton moreover voiced their assist for Vinicius Jr.

The 22-year-old Brazil worldwide later posted a picture of the statue silhouetted in direction of the moon on Twitter and expressed his gratitude for the assistance he had acquired.

“Black and imposing. Christ the Redeemer was like this just now. An action of solidarity that moved me. But I want, above all, to inspire and bring more light to our struggle,” he wrote.

Spanish Football Federation head Luis Rubiales admitted there was an precise draw back of racism throughout the nation’s soccer the place “press releases don’t work anymore”.