The two -time World Cup winner of Brazil, Ronaldo Nazariowill lead a special working group created to try to eradicate racism, discrimination and violence in South American football, as Conmebol announced. “Your mission will be to design policies and establish prevention and sanction mechanisms that contribute to eradicating these behaviors that affect both sport and society,” they say in a statement.
Ronaldo, 48, retired in 2019 after a career that included World Cup titles in 1994 and 2002. The appointment comes after a meeting of leaders, government officials, former players and union representatives of players convened by the president of Conmebol, Alejandro Domínguez, to address the issues derived from his controversial statements about Brazilian football.
Domínguez caused anger when he said The Brazilian clubs that retired from the Copa Libertadores due to episodes of racism would make the competition “like Tarzan without Cheetah”. Conmebol has been subjected to increasing pressure to act with decision against racism. Several Brazilian players and fans have been the subject of monkeys of monkeys in games away from home in recent years, which has also generated more pressure on the referees to act.
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In addition to Ronaldo, the former Secretary General of FIFA Fatma Samoura and former Argentine player Sergio Marchi, president of FIFPRO South America will be part of the working group.
