Barcelona, June 17, 2023 – In a bold stand against racism, the Brazilian national football team abandoned their traditional yellow and green shirts and instead donned an all-black strip during a friendly international match against Guinea on Saturday. The move was prompted by the incessant racist attacks faced by Brazil’s star striker, Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid, throughout the season.
The historic match, held at Espanyol’s 40,000-seat stadium in Barcelona, saw Vinicius, 22, and his Real Madrid teammate Rodrygo leading the forward line for Brazil. This marked the first time in the country’s footballing history that the Brazilian team wore black uniforms, excluding the goalkeepers.
The decision to sport the all-black kit was spearheaded by the Brazilian Football Confederation, sending a strong message accompanied by the slogan, “Com racismo não tem jogo” (With racism, there is no game). It was a united front against racial discrimination, aimed at highlighting the urgency to eradicate such behavior from the sport.
The catalyst for this powerful gesture was the continuous racist abuse suffered by Vinicius Junior throughout the season, prompting widespread global outrage. By taking this stand, Brazil aims to foster a safer and more inclusive environment in football, where players are not subjected to discrimination based on the color of their skin.
Earlier in the week, the Spanish and Brazilian football federations jointly unveiled plans for a friendly match scheduled to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in March 2024. The purpose of this upcoming game is to further combat racism and raise awareness about the issue.
