The Brazilian national men's football team made history by wearing an all-black kit for the first time ever during a friendly match against Guinea in Barcelona on Saturday. The move is part of their anti-racism campaign, with the slogan "Com Racismo nao tem jogo" ("With racism, there is no game") displayed on the front of the shirts. Players from both teams also observed a minute's silence on the pitch prior to the match. The Brazilian Federation, with the support of FIFA, aims to end racism in football and society through this campaign.
This issue is particularly important to Brazil's Real Madrid forward Vinícius Jr., who has been the victim of persistent racist abuse during matches. The LaLiga reported 10 such incidents involving Vinícius during the 2022-2023 season alone. FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the Brazilian delegation on Thursday and pledged his full support for the campaign. He also invited Vinícius to join a FIFA anti-racism committee with other players to suggest solutions to combat discriminatory behavior in football.
During the match against Guinea, Brazil played in their black kit in the first half, before reverting to their traditional yellow jersey after the break. Brazil scored four goals, with Joelinton, Rodrygo, Eder Militão and Vinícius finding the back of the net. Guinea managed to score one goal, thanks to Guirassy. This victory gave Brazil some confidence ahead of their next friendly match against Senegal in Lisbon, Portugal on Tuesday.
The Brazilian team's move to wear all-black kit is a powerful statement in the fight against racism in football and society. It highlights the importance of taking a stand against discrimination in any form and sends a strong message that inclusion and equality should be the principles that guide our society. The fact that FIFA is backing this campaign is also a positive sign that steps are being taken to address this issue in the sport.