UEFA's apparent failure to act on abusive chanting towards Vinicius Junior at Champions League games shows it 'cannot even do the bare minimum' to protect players from racism.
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona fans appeared to engage in racist and abusive chants aimed at the Brazilian prior to their Champions League last-16 matches against Inter Milan and Napoli last month, with Vinicius urging UEFA to act at the time.
However, neither incident featured in a list of sanctions issued by UEFA's control, ethics and disciplinary body covering those games which was issued on Thursday. UEFA has offered up no explanation for the apparent absence of any sanction, or said whether the chants remain the subject of an investigation.
European football's governing body also issued no comment at the time social media footage circulated of the chanting.
Delroy Corinaldi, the executive director of the Black Footballers Partnership which aims to increase the voice and influence of black footballers, said in a statement issued to the PA news agency: 'Black footballers love the game.
'And Vinicius has every right to expect the support of the game which extends beyond words of 'anti-racism' and a slap on the wrist for offenders. On this occasion, they seem to have failed to even do that.
'UEFA and the governing bodies are showing Europe's footballing community that they cannot even do the bare minimum to protect black players.
'Any failure to act brings home the lack of diversity and representation in the decision-making roles within football and the need for game to be held to account. It is time black footballers were seen as more than just entertainers simply there to be abused.'
Atletico and Barca fans were filmed chanting about Vinicius close to
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