The Flamengo coach, Filipe Luisclarified this Friday that he did not intend to relativize the seriousness of racism in football or the particular case of the offenses reported by the Real Madrid forward. Vinícius Junior.
Filipe Luís stressed that racism is “unacceptable conduct, which must be firmly combated and punished,” in a statement released after having received criticism in Brazil for the statements that the Brazilian coach made on Thursday night, in which he referred to the event as “an isolated case.”
“Total support” for Vinicius
“I recognize that my words, given the extreme sensitivity of the issue, may have given rise to different interpretations. Therefore, I consider it essential to publicly reinforce my position, which has always been non-negotiable: racism is a crime in Brazil and should be treated with the same rigor in all countries,” wrote Filipe Luis.
The Flamengo coach also supported Vinícius Júnior, expressing his “full support” to the Brazilian forward, who was formed precisely in the ranks of the Rio club.
Vinícius denounced that the Argentine attacker Gianluca Prestianni, from Benfica, called him “bun” on Tuesday in the first leg of the playoff tie to reach the round of 16 of the Champions League.
Asked about this, after the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana, played against Lanus in Argentina (1-0), Filipe Luís minimized the incident and assured that he has always been treated “good” in Argentina on his visits as a player and coach.
“Regarding Vinícius, yes I have been very well treated, I love Argentina, I have always been very happy here, very well received. Always a visitor, but I only have good words for Argentina. And an isolated case of these has no influence on what I think of this country, which is so beautiful,” expressed Filipe Luis in statements that he qualified today in light of the commotion generated.
