Corinthians to honour New York mayor after Democracia remarks | OneFootball

Corinthians is preparing a tribute to New York mayor Zohran Mamdani in recognition of the politician’s recent statements about the history of Corinthians Democracy and the legacy of Sócrates, one of the greatest idols in the club’s history.

The tribute is scheduled for this Saturday (20) and will include the participation of Walter Casagrande, former Corinthians player and one of the leading figures of the movement in the 1980s. The information was reported by GloboNews.

Photo: Disclosure/Corinthians)

Initially, the club sought contact with Mamdani through Itamaraty, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, the approach began to be handled with the help of Casagrande, who is in New York following the 2026 World Cup and has a meeting scheduled with the mayor to discuss possible sports and social exchange projects between Brazil and the United States.

During the meeting, Corinthians will present two symbols of recognition. One will be a shirt in honor of Sócrates, while the other will be a plaque thanking him for helping bring international recognition to the club’s history and Corinthians Democracy.

The message included in the tribute highlights the importance of the movement created at Parque São Jorge between 1982 and 1984, emphasizing the role of Corinthians Democracy as an example of collective participation within football. The text also references one of the traditional chants of the black-and-white supporters, ending with the phrase: “Go New York, Go Corinthians”.

The tribute comes after Mamdani mentioned Corinthians and Sócrates during an edition of the program “The Morning Pitch,” posted on New York City Hall’s social media on June 12. The content, presented by the mayor himself, usually covers topics related to the city, but took advantage of the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup to discuss the relationship between football, society, and politics.

On that occasion, Mamdani recalled the trajectory of Sócrates, captain of the Brazilian National Team at the 1982 World Cup and a Corinthians player between 1978 and 1984. The mayor highlighted the former midfielder’s role during a period marked by Brazil’s military dictatorship and pointed to the black-and-white idol’s defense of democracy.

“I’ve been thinking lately about Sócrates, not the ancient Greek philosopher, but the Brazilian midfield maestro. Sócrates played for Brazil in the 1970s and ’80s, including the 1982 World Cup, where he captained the national team. These were difficult years in Brazil. A repressive military junta ruled the country, imposing its power by force,” he said.

In another excerpt, Mamdani highlighted the creation of Corinthians Democracy and explained how the movement sought to establish more equal participation within the club, regardless of the members’ roles.

“At Corinthians, the club he captained, Sócrates and his teammates took part in what ordinary Brazilians dreamed of: democracy. They began an experiment in self-government called Corinthians Democracy. Whether you were the star center-forward or worked in the laundry room, you had a vote”, he said.

The mayor also recalled one of the most striking moments led by Sócrates, when Corinthians players took the field wearing jackets with the phrase “I want to vote for president” on them, in reference to the movement for direct elections in Brazil.

“And while the military dictatorship tortured and murdered its citizens, Sócrates led the players onto the field, wearing jackets with the words ‘I want to vote for president’ on the back. As we prepare to celebrate the World Cup here in New York, we are celebrating a sport that has given millions of people around the world, so many poor and forgotten, a sense of belonging, a connection to their neighbor, a feeling of shared solidarity. Football created movements, helped bring down dictators, and for 90 minutes at a time, not only allowed us to forget our problems, but to find ways to overcome them. What a beautiful game”, he concluded.

The initiative reinforces the international profile of Corinthians Democracy, a movement that marked the club’s history during the final years of Brazil’s military dictatorship and featured names such as Sócrates, Wladimir, and Casagrande, as well as football director Adílson Monteiro Alves.

The movement’s history will also be portrayed in a series produced by HBO. The production will have eight episodes and will cover the events at Parque São Jorge, as well as the stories of the main figures involved in building Corinthians Democracy.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.