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NEWS | Federation
13 June 2023

Spain - Brazil: "Football to enjoy"

Presented at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas, the friendly match “Una misma piel” (One Skin) will be played in March of next year.

The President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Luis Rubiales, and his counterpart from the Brazilian Federation (CBF), Ednaldo Rodrigues, have presented this morning, at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas, the friendly match that will pit Spain against Brazil in March 2024. An event during which it was publicly announced that the match will take place at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, and will be complemented by other related actions.

A match against racism, under the motto “Una misma piel” (One Skin) in which both federations show their unity against discrimination and xenophobic violence. Alongside the presidents of both federations, international players Ansu Fati and Rodrigo Moreno have appeared in the Vilallonga room.

As mentioned, the match will be played in the month of March, provided that Spain qualifies directly for the next European Championship and does not have to play the playoffs.

"Football was invented to be enjoyable"

The President of the RFEF, Luis Rubiales, directly addressed Rodrigues to highlight the passion with which Spain embraces Brazilian football: "We admire you very much," he expressed. As he explained, the match began to take shape after the racist incidents against Vinicius Jr, and considering that 25 years had already passed since Brazil's last match in our country. "Football was invented to be enjoyable, to have fun, and not to convey something as negative as any racist message," he pointed out.

Rubiales considered that the fight for equality and non-discrimination in the last 5 years has taken important steps, such as the creation of the Equality Observatory, but that this match is a further significant step.

Rodrigues: "An important message" to the world

For his part, Ednaldo Rodrigues, President of the CBF, highlighted that the world must listen to "the important message" from the two federations against racism and any form of discrimination. "Football encompasses all the joy in the world, and there is no place for any kind of discrimination, especially racism, which negatively affects all fans," Rodrigues emphasized.

"The initiative of the RFEF, CBF, and the two national teams sends a very important message to the world: enough with racism," he explained, before stating that racism is not something that is only actively committed: "Anyone who witnesses a racist situation and does not fight against it is also a declared racist," declared the President of the Brazilian Federation.

Ednaldo Rodrigues explained the "special affection" he has for Luis Rubiales, as he has encountered similar issues at the CBF that Rubiales faced at the RFEF. Alongside the sporting aspect, they have had to make a special effort in the fight against all types of discrimination and the lack of transparency, and that philosophy is being conveyed worldwide through collaboration with entities such as FIFA. Rodrigues has called for "more sanctions" in the fight against intolerance and racism.

Finally, Ansu Fati and Rodrigo Moreno expressed both their solidarity with those who suffer attacks and discrimination based on the color of their skin and their excitement to be able to play this match against the Brazilian national team.

 

Watch the complete presentation event again