Spain & Brazil set to play friendly match in March to fight against racism & violence in football

Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior has been often the subject of racism in Spain

To eradicate racism, the football associations of Brazil and Spain have scheduled a friendly match in March 2024 with the slogan “We are all alike.”

The match, which is a friendly sequence that will involve Brazil playing against another UEFA team, is intended to further the promise that the presidents of the Spanish Federation (RFEF) and the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, made to combat violence in football.

In a joint press release, the RFEF and the CBF expressed their hope that the game, which has not yet been set for a location in Spain, will “reinforce the commitment of both entities against violence in football and to intensify the already existing good relations” between the two nations.

“This action, in collaboration with my friend Luis Rubiales, will be important to further reinforce the need to fight vehemently against racism in all corners of the planet,” Rodrigues said in a statement.

A contentious discussion concerning racism tolerance has erupted in Spain as a result of racial taunts directed repeatedly against Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior.

Ever since arriving in Spain for football five years ago, the Brazilian has faced abuse.

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The game at Mestalla between Real Madrid and Valencia earlier in the year was interrupted throughout the second half when the Brazil international recognised an individual in the audience opposite the Valencia goal as having racially harassed him.

Vinícius made claims on social media following the game, stating that “racism is normal in La Liga” and “in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists.”

LaLiga has reported racial taunts and chants directed at Vinicius to the authorities; nevertheless, some of the complaints have been dropped by the prosecution.

Rubiales has acknowledged in the open that racism is an issue in Spain. This will be Spain’s tenth meeting with Brazil, having last competed in the 2013 Confederations Cup. In their past nine meetings, they are 5-2-2.

A proposal for CONMEBOL teams to participate in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League was previously discussed by UEFA, but it was never implemented.

Being part of a racism prevention operation, the CBF declared that Brazil would engage in a friendly against Senegal three days following and Guinea on June 17.

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