Brazil Wears Black Kits for First Time Ever to Make Anti-Racism Statement

The Brazilian men’s national football team made history while making an anti-racism statement on Saturday.

For the first half of their friendly match on Saturday, June 17, at the Stage Front Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat, Spain, Brazil donned black kits for the first time in the nation’s footballing history. The kits were worn in support of forward Vinicius Jr., who has recently endured a number of racial abuse incidents while playing club football with Real Madrid.

Vinicius Jr. was given the number 10 shirt for the match, which, with the Brazilian national team, is most closely associated with legendary forward Pelé. “With racism there is no game! Your fight is our fight,” the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) tweeted prior to the game. “And on this historic day, when the Brazilian national team will wear a black shirt for the first time, you will wear our emblematic number 10 shirt. Let’s go together in the fight against racism in football and society.”

*Courtesy **@todosobrecamisetasok** / Instagram*

The black shirts featured an embossed leopard print pattern, much like their current home jerseys. The names and numbers on the back were yellow, with an orange outline on the numbers. The Nike swoosh, number and CBF crest on the front of the shirt were all one-color yellow.

The black shirt was paired with black shorts and socks.

Many of the fixtures in Brazil’s dressing room and in the hallway leading out to the field also featured anti-racism messages. Both teams posed together prior to kickoff to stand against racism.

In the second half, Brazil switched back to its usual home kit, with yellow shirts, blue shorts and white socks with green cuffs. The shirts, however, still had a black anti-racism logo in the middle of the chest.