Corinthians launch anti-racism drive v Cruzeiro in Brasileirão

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Central do Timão

·25 febbraio 2026

Corinthians launch anti-racism drive v Cruzeiro in Brasileirão

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On Wednesday (25), Corinthians will take to the field against Cruzeiro with an explicit demonstration against racism. On the upper part of the uniform's collar, the phrase "Racism is a crime. Report it" will be displayed. During the teams' entrance, the players will raise their shirts up to their mouths, highlighting the message and creating a symbolic image of confronting racial discrimination in football.

The initiative was developed by the club in partnership with the agency AlmapBBDO and included collaboration from ALOB Sports. The proposal goes beyond a one-off action: it transforms the uniform, the main symbol of the team's identity, into a platform for institutional positioning. Amid recent episodes of racism in international football, Corinthians chose to publicly reinforce its historical commitment to the cause.

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Photo: Disclosure/Corinthians

Besides the phrase on the collar, the uniform will also feature the patch of the campaign "The Black History of Corinthians," led by the club's Cultural Department. The initiative highlights the black protagonism in the foundation, formation, and trajectory of the team. The shirt will also have a QR Code directing to educational content on the official website, extending the message's reach beyond the field.

Cultural and Social Responsibility Director of the club, Rafael Castilho, stated that the action represents more than a symbolic gesture. "Corinthians was born from the people and represents millions of fans from all backgrounds. Our history is one of struggle and resistance. This is more than an action, it's a clear stance: racism is a crime and must always be reported," he declared. He also highlighted the symbolism of the athletes' gesture of partially covering their mouths, associating the image with the silence historically imposed on racism victims and turning it into a public manifestation.

The campaign also involved Iron Brito, creative director of AlmapBBDO, who quoted Martin Luther King Jr. to emphasize the importance of active positioning against discrimination: "Martin Luther King said: 'What worries me is not the shout of the dishonest, but the silence of the good.' When Vini Jr. doesn't stay silent, when Mbappé joins his voice to his, when Hugo also takes a stand, and when Corinthians joins this fight, the cause's strength increases significantly. Racism is a crime, and we need to shout this together until this reality changes. In our idea, creativity acts as a tool for this change to happen."

From ALOB Sports, CEO Bernardo Pontes emphasized the social role of sports: "Sports marketing has the responsibility to go beyond brand exposure. When we use this reach to support a clear stance against racism, we contribute to strengthening a message that needs to be permanent inside and outside stadiums."

"From its first badge, embroidered by the hands of a black woman, through the great black idols in our history and the major references of black leadership in our fanbase, Corinthians presents itself to society as a space of belonging, inclusion, and struggle. The strength of Corinthians lies precisely in its diversity and plurality. Corinthians is a window through which many Brazilians see the world. Therefore, it is absolutely consistent with its own history, struggle, and responsibility in combating racism," reinforced Rafael Castilho.

The match against Cruzeiro will be held at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte, valid for the fourth round of the Brazilian Championship Série A, with exclusive broadcast by Premiere.

The club also emphasizes that cases of racism must be reported. Instances of discrimination can be registered through Disque 100, the National Human Rights Ombudsman channel, by calling 190 for immediate occurrences, at Civil Police units, or with the Public Prosecutor's Office. Racism is a crime and needs to be permanently combated.

Case of racism involving Hugo Souza

Hugo Souza was subjected to racial slurs as he left the field at Estádio do Canindé on Sunday night. While heading towards the locker room, two Portuguesa fans remaining in the stands insulted him with terms like "slum dweller," "toothless," "starving," "lice-ridden," and "go cut that hair."

In an official statement, Portuguesa condemned the incident and informed that it is working to identify those responsible, apply the appropriate punishments, and cooperate with authorities. Corinthians also took a firm stance against the attacks, highlighting that the expressions used are reminiscent of terms historically associated with structural racism, something unacceptable and incompatible with the principles of sport and society.

On the field, Hugo had a decisive performance: he saved a penalty in regular time and two more in the shootout that secured Corinthians' spot in the State Championship semifinals.

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