With the number 21 shirt, former Benfica player Gabriel Barbosa. With 22, ex-portista Felipe. With the 23, the former goalkeeper of the Ederson embodied. With 25, Douglas Luiz, Aston Villa midfielder. Did you notice something missing? Yes, the Brazil team in Copa America does not have number 24.
By chance? Forgetfulness? No: according to the Arco Íris Group, the reason is homophobia. Therefore, the organization defending LGBT rights filed a lawsuit seeking explanations from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) for the absence of the number. And judge Ricardo Cyfer stipulated a daily fine of 800 reais (135 euros) for each day, starting today, when the entity is not justified.
The 24 is connoted in Brazil with homosexuality as it is the number of the deer in the popular animal game. And deer, due to phonetic similarity with viado, an abbreviation for stray, has become synonymous, in a pejorative tone, with gay in the country.
The number, as well as what it came to mean, is the target of prejudice – recent reports have shown that even in the National Congress, the supposed seat of Brazilian democracy, deputies and senators avoid cabinet number 24, going from 23 to 25.
In the Brazilian team, prejudice was never evident because the players called up for major international competitions, such as the World Cup or Copa América, were 23, until the pandemic and the consequent traffic jam in the international calendar allowed the summoning of 26 athletes for this type of tournament.
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