Brazil’s players donned black jerseys in a friendly match played in Spain.
Vinícius got the legendary number 10 for the first time in the Brazilian national team. EPA/AOP
Brazil’s national team wore an all-black kit in a friendly against Guinea on Saturday. It is the first time in the national team’s 109-year history that it ended up wearing a black kit instead of the legendary yellow.
The background of the unusual game outfit was the racism faced by Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior in the Spanish league. In May, Vinícius was subjected to continuous racist chants against Valencia, after which the Brazilian government demanded significant punishments from the Spanish decision-makers. Three Valencia supporters were fined 5,000 euros and banned.
The events of the Valencia match were no less than the tenth time during the last season that racist shouts or actions directed at Vinícius were reported to Spanish prosecutors.
The story continues after the picture.
Brazil returned to more familiar colors with the latter four. EPA/AOP
In the match between Brazil and Guinea on Saturday, the players of both teams knelt or sat on the grass of Barcelona’s Espanyol home field for a minute of silence before the start of the match. Brazil played the opening period in black, but returned after the break in a more traditional yellow shirt.
The match was part of an anti-racism campaign launched by the Brazilian Football Association. Brazil won the match 4–1 with goals from Joelinton, Rodrygo, Eder Militão and Vinícius. Responsible for Guinea’s only child Guirassy.
Brazil will play their next friendly of the campaign on Tuesday against Senegal in Lisbon.