Brazil federation to punish racism in football matches

Brazil’s football federation CBF announced it will punish racist offenses in football matches. In the first case of racism in a national competition, a club may be punished with a fine. In the second instance, the team will lose their home advantage, or will play with gates closed. In the third offense, points are deducted.

The federation says it is the first in the world to adopt such punishments as part of its regulations. The new rules were included in the 2023 norms, published Tuesday (14), and will come into force in the Brazil Cup, which starts on February 22.

“The fight against racism is urgent. Measures have been discussed for centuries and never put into practice. CBF is doing its part. We decided to go even further with punishments and we can even deduct points from a club in our competitions,” said CBF head Ednaldo Rodrigues, elected in March.

On January 11, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a law that makes the crime of racial insult equivalent to racism, cannot be bailed or statute-barred. The text also stipulates an increase in the penalty for offenses committed at sports and cultural events in the country.