The Portuguese government has ordered an investigation against supporters of the Guimarães club into the racist insults directed against Moussa Marega during this Sunday's football match between Futebol Clube do Porto and Vitória Guimarães. The Franco-Malian player has seen many racist cries and songs from the stands of Guimarães supporters. In response, the player left the field. This image shocked and toured the world of football and far beyond. Indeed, policies are also involved. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about this racist shout from Guimarães supporters towards Moussa Marega.
Portuguese public ministry orders an investigation against Vitória Guimarães' fans after racist behaviour
The Portuguese prosecution confirmed to RTP on Monday that an investigation had been opened into the racist insults directed against Moussa Marega during the football match organized this Sunday between the Futebol Clube do Porto and Vitória Guimarães.
The Portuguese police had already declared that they were seeking to identify sympathizers suspected of racist shouts and gestures towards Marega, which correspond to criminal offenses and are liable to administrative sanctions. The President of the Portuguese Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa appealed to the “values, civic sense and common sense of the Portuguese to avoid any escalation in an area where everyone loses by creating divisions”.
"Despite the fact that it was not possible to carry out any identification or detention in the sports arena, given the concentration of people, the Portuguese police, within the legal framework indicated, are taking the necessary measures to identify suspects who have committed criminal and administrative offenses, by bringing them before the competent judicial and administrative authorities, "said the SPP on the incident.
Also according to the police, such behavior constitutes a crime foreseen and punished in the Portuguese Penal Code with a prison sentence ranging from six months to five years. This also constitutes an offense, since "the practice of acts or incitement to violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sports arenas" can be punished with fines ranging from one thousand to ten a thousand euros.
The public prosecutor's office now confirms that an investigation is underway at the Guimarães department of investigations and criminal actions into the events of the football match. The episode which took place at the Vitória stadium in Guimarães has occupied an important place in the international press and has already caused several political reactions in Portugal.
First of all, from the President of the Republic who, in his statements to the RTP, expressed his "vehement condemnation of all manifestations of racism, xenophobia and discrimination". "Not only because they violate ethical principles, such as respect for the dignity of persons and their fundamental rights, not only because it violates the Portuguese Constitution, but above all the Portuguese people know from experience how this path of racism and xenophobia, once opened, leads to cultural and civilizational setbacks and serious problems of social peace. And everyone loses, "reacted Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
"The way to react to racist provocations is not to go into an escalation of counter-provocations, by showing respect for the Constitution and also using common sense," said the head of state.
In turn, the Portuguese Prime Minister expressed his "total solidarity" with the athlete from Futebol Clube do Porto. And he wrote on the social network Twitter that "all acts of racism are criminal and intolerable". “No human being should be subjected to this humiliation. No one can remain indifferent. I condemn all acts of racism, whatever the circumstances, ”said António Costa.
