Brazilian team player cries while speaking about racism during match

By Cenarium*

MANAUS (AM) – Football player Luighi, from the under-20 team of Palmeiras Sport Society, was subjected to racial abuse during a Copa Libertadores match for the category in which he plays against Cerro Porteño, on Thursday, the 6th, in Paraguay. In a press conference, the player called on sports authorities to impose possible punishments on those involved.

During the match, rival team supporters made monkey gestures towards the Brazilian player and spat at him. One of them, standing near the fence that separated the pitch from the stands, was holding a child in his arms. The quarter-final match was not stopped at the time of the incident.

After the match, when questioned about his team’s performance, Luighi rebuked the reporter from the tournament’s official broadcast, who had ignored the incident on the pitch.

“Are you serious? You’re not going to ask about the racist act against me? Seriously? How long are we going to have to endure this? How long? Tell me, how long are we going to endure this? What they did to me was a crime, and you’re not going to ask about it? Are you really going to ask about the match instead? What is Conmebol [South American Football Confederation] going to do about it? CBF [Brazilian Football Confederation], I don’t know. You’re not going to ask about it? You weren’t, were you? You weren’t going to ask about it, but what they did to me was a crime,” he said.

In a statement, Conmebol said it rejects any act of racism or discrimination and pledged to apply appropriate disciplinary measures. “CONMEBOL categorically rejects all acts of racism or discrimination of any kind. Appropriate disciplinary measures will be implemented, and further actions are being evaluated in consultation with specialists in the field,” the statement read.

The Ministry of Sport also issued a statement condemning the racist act suffered by the young player. In a note published in the early hours of Friday, the 7th, it affirmed that it will demand an investigation to punish those responsible for the criminal act.

“The Ministry of Sport expresses its deep indignation and repudiation of the acts of racism suffered by the Palmeiras Under-20 players, especially the athlete Luighi, during the match against Cerro Porteño in the Under-20 Copa Libertadores, held on Thursday, the 6th, in Paraguay. We reiterate that racism is a crime and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. This Ministry will demand, alongside the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), a rigorous investigation into the incident and the application of appropriate sanctions to those responsible, in accordance with current regulations. It is imperative that the laws be strictly enforced to prevent and eradicate any discriminatory manifestations in sport. We stand in solidarity with the affected athletes and the entire Brazilian sporting community, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to the fight against racism and the promotion of a fair, inclusive, and respectful sporting environment for all,” the statement read.

Rivals and players show solidarity

After the match, players and rival clubs of Palmeiras in Brazilian football expressed their solidarity with Luighi. São Paulo FC praised the player’s statement and also demanded answers from Conmebol. “You represented millions of people who can no longer endure suffering from criminal acts like this,” wrote the club’s official profile.

Corinthians, Palmeiras’ biggest rival, reposted the official statement on its X profile, formerly Twitter, stating that support goes “beyond any rivalry.” “Sport Club Corinthians Paulista stands in solidarity with athlete Luighi, reiterating its absolute rejection of the racist acts that frequently occur against Brazilian players,” it wrote.

In the player’s post, Roni, who previously played for Palmeiras and is now at Atlético Mineiro, added his voice to the calls for accountability from the organisation that governs football in South America. Flaco López, an Argentine teammate of Luighi at Palmeiras, also spoke out. “I’m with you, brother,” he said.

Crime

In Brazil, racism is considered a crime under the Constitution and specific legislation, such as the Racial Crimes Law (Law No. 7,716/1989), which establishes penalties for discriminatory acts based on race, ethnicity, or skin colour. Unlike other offences, racial discrimination is classified as an imprescriptible and non-bailable crime, meaning perpetrators can be prosecuted at any time and cannot avoid detention through bail.

Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves