IN a strong stand against racism, the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) announced on Friday that Brazil’s national team will play friendly matches against two African nations as part of an anti-racism campaign. The initiative aims to support Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr (pictured), who has faced racial abuse in Spanish League games this season.
The five-time world champions will face Guinea in Barcelona on June 17, followed by a match against Senegal in Lisbon three days later. The decision comes after Vinicius Jr suffered racist insults during a LaLiga match against Valencia last Sunday, marking the 10th reported incident against the player this season.
Furthermore, the CBF has launched a national campaign against racism in Brazilian league matches, starting this weekend. The move demonstrates the association’s commitment to combating racism in football and promoting equality and inclusivity.
As the search for a new national team manager continues, caretaker coach Ramon Menezes will lead Brazil during these friendlies. Menezes will briefly leave his post as the Under-20 coach during the ongoing World Cup in Argentina to announce the squad for the Barcelona and Lisbon matches in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
While the CBF had previously considered Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti as a potential candidate for the vacant Brazil post, Ancelotti recently confirmed that he will honour his contract at the Bernabeu for the remaining year.
The upcoming friendlies not only provide Brazil with an opportunity to showcase their talent on the field but also serve as a powerful statement against racism, as the football community unites to support Vinicius Jr and address the pervasive issue of racial abuse in the sport.
