Filipe Luís says: Racism is unacceptable, support Vinícius

São Paulo – Flamengo coach Filipe Luís issued statements this Friday clarifying his position on the racism incident involving Vinícius Júnior. The coach’s words came after the 1-0 defeat against Lanús in the first leg of the Recopa Sudamericana, which generated various reactions.

Firm Stance Against Racism

Filipe Luís emphasized that racism is completely unacceptable and must be firmly combated.

Racism is unacceptable behavior, which must be fought and punished firmly.

Filipe Luís

The coach acknowledged that his previous statements may have been misinterpreted due to the sensitivity of the topic. The former Atlético de Madrid and Deportivo de La Coruña player insisted on his unwavering stance against racism, recalling that it is a crime in Brazil and must be treated with the same rigor anywhere. In addition, he expressed his full support for Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid forward and trained in the lower categories of Flamengo.

The Champions League Incident

The controversy arose following the complaint by Vinícius Júnior, who accused the Argentinian Gianluca Prestianni, a Benfica player, of uttering a racist insult during a UEFA Champions League match. In a press conference, Filipe Luís had commented that he was always treated well in Argentina and that an “isolated case” would not change his perception of the country. This comment generated criticism in various media and on social media.

Debate in Brazil

Filipe Luís’s statement reignited the debate about the responsibility of public figures in football regarding cases of racism and the need for strong responses in international competitions. In his final statement, Filipe Luís reiterated that he never intended to minimize Vinícius Júnior’s suffering and reaffirmed his absolute rejection of any form of discrimination in sport.