Real Madrid's Vinicius honoured for his fight against racism

Vinicius Junior was decorated on Wednesday with the main distinctions awarded by the regional and municipal legislatures of Rio de Janeiro, in a ceremony at the Maracana stadium in which the regional law against racism that bears his name was highlighted.
"It's a very special day and I hope my family is very proud. I am very young and I didn't expect that, so young, I would be at the Maracana, in such a special place for me, receiving this tribute," said the Real Madrid and Brazil player at the event.
The striker called up by Brazil to play in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar received both the Tiradentes Medal, the main award granted by the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro, and the Pedro Ernesto Medal, the main award granted by the City Council of Rio de Janeiro.
"Sometimes I wonder if I deserve so much. I didn't expect so many awards and to receive all this affection at the Maracana, where I attended and played so many Flamengo games. It's exciting," added the striker.
The footballer's decision to directly confront the fans who made racist insults at a Spanish La Liga match between Real Madrid and Valencia inspired the law against racism in stadiums that comes into force from Wednesday in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
The law, authored by leftist deputy Professor Josimar and sanctioned by Governor Claudio Castro, provides for matches to be automatically suspended as soon as racist insults are registered, and even definitively if the discrimination continues.
The so-called 'Vini Jr. Law' also establishes the Protocol to Combat Racism, which provides guidance to any citizen on how to report racist behaviour to any authority in a stadium.
At the event, the Real Madrid striker also left his footprints engraved on the Walk of Fame at the Maracana, Brazil's greatest football temple, where stars such as Pele, Garrincha, Rivelino and Ronaldo already have theirs.
"It is an honour to pay this tribute to a footballer who is an idol of Brazilian football, born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. In addition to carrying all the achievements of his football career, Vinicius has also become a symbol of the fight against racism," said Rio de Janeiro's regional sports secretary, Rafael Picciani.