It's very common to hear in sports broadcasts that "sports bring people together," but is that really the reality? Unfortunately, we've been witnessing cases of racism and homophobia in the sports environment for quite some time now.
Despite the notable progress of recent years, it is still very common to hear jokes about the number 24 (because it is associated with homosexuality due to its reference to the illegal lottery game "Jogo do Bicho") and even the slight... use of this number in the field.
This was one of the reasons for Fluminense's action in the last round of the Brazilian Championship, on June 27, 2021, the day before International LGBTQIA+ Pride Day. The Rio de Janeiro team wore a special uniform and captain Nino played with the number 24 and an armband with the colors of the rainbow.
And more teams took a position!
Football is a globally beloved sport, and that's why seeing teams positioning themselves like this brings a warm feeling to the heart. June arrived with a highly anticipated championship: the European Championship, which was the starting point for some players' on-field positioning, such as that of Manuel Neuer, captain of the German national team, who is wearing an armband with rainbow colors in every game. https://cryptoplayca.com
Other major European teams have also taken a stand, whether by changing their avatars on social media or posting on their feeds. The English team Chelsea, the Spanish Barcelona and the Italians Milan and Juventus These were some of those who paid their respects during the month of June.
If you had asked me earlier this month if I expected to see Brazilian teams showing support for LGBTQIA+ Pride Day, I certainly would have said no. Especially after the homophobic remarks. after Sport's tribute to fan and former Big Brother Brazil contestant Gil do Vigor.
But the world of football played a trick on us, and this time a very good one! A number of teams used the Brazilian championship round to pay tribute to the LGBTQIA+ cause.
The "Good morning" message on social media from Clube de Regatas Vasco da Gama was a manifesto in respect for differences. The team was one of the pioneers in bringing the discussion to the field, in 2019, when they entered with a... banner with the words "Homophobia is a crime".
In addition to the manifesto, the Rio de Janeiro club played with rainbow colors on the team's banner and the corner flags also in the same colors. Their Rio rival, Flamengo, didn't lag behind; they also... personalized the numbers on the uniformsIn São Paulo, it was Corinthians' turn to post. Your tribute on Instagram and in the federal capital the women's team Minas Brasilia.
It seems that, even at a snail's pace, we are getting closer to a reality where we can say that sport does indeed unite people. Now tell us, which action did you like the most?
