Brazil seeks to adopt the principle of extraterritoriality in the face of racist attacks on Vinicius

“We are exploring the possibility of applying the principle known as extraterritoriality. The Criminal Code provides that, in certain exceptional cases, it is possible to apply Brazilian law to crimes against Brazilians,” the minister told reporters.

For now, Dino explained, it’s a matter of examining the possibilities “in the case that we think the Spanish authorities have overlooked.”

In a message posted on his Twitter account, he explained that the Criminal Code stipulates that the Brazilian Justice may invoke the principle as an “extreme remedy” for an offense committed by a Brazilian from outside, if the Government so requests. .

According to Dino, it is a tool that can be useful “in the event of inaction by the authorities and in response to unjust attacks against a citizen.”

Faced with some criticism for his statements, the minister issued another message in which he clarified that the possibility was only being analyzed and that it was dependent on several factors.

“I want to remind you that it is stipulated in the Penal Code, because some question that I refer to it as an extreme remedy. I find it useful for everyone to be aware of the existence of this protection for the rights of Brazilians. By the way, this principle also exists in Spain and other countries,” he said.

The minister decided on the case after the Brazilian government rejected “in the strongest terms” the racial slurs that Vinícius Júnior “has repeatedly suffered in Spain”, and that FIFA, as well as that country’s government and football authorities, had to take “effective” measures.

The government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in a stern official statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “deeply regrets that no effective measures have been taken so far to prevent and prevent the recurrence of these acts of racism.”

The note underlines the “seriousness of the events” that occurred during the Spanish League match between Valencia and Real Madrid at the Mestalla stadium on Sunday, in which the Brazilian team player was once again the target of racial insults.

In its statement, Brazil “calls on the Spanish government and sports authorities to take the necessary measures to punish those responsible and prevent the repetition of these acts”, also referring to “FIFA, the Spanish Federation and LaLiga” in the same sense. “.