It is more obvious to see the Brazilian football stars proudly displaying Pelé’s 10 on their jerseys, than the number 24, which is practically banned for homophobic reasons. This prejudice comes from “jogo do bicho” (game of the beast), clandestine lotto appeared at the end of the 19th century in the streets of Rio, and is still practiced.
Each bettor must choose a box represented by an animal and the number 24 is that of the deer, associated with homosexuality in Brazilian popular culture, among other things because it belongs to the animal species whose males can have sexual relations with each other. .
“There is a real taboo, even if it may seem crazy. It’s a number like any other, but footballers prefer to use another number so that their masculinity is not called into question”explains to AFP Bernardo Gonzales, activist and player of a trans futsal team, Sport Club T Mosqueteiros de Sao Paulo.
According to him, the prejudice extends far beyond the football fields, in a country where homophobic violence is ravaging. Some men, for example, refuse to sit on chair 24 in the theater or at the cinema, to live in apartment 24 in a building or use 23+1 candles to celebrate their 24th birthday.
“I’m not homophobic, but on the 24th, no way!”launches a fan of Palmeiras in a bar in Sao Paulo.
| Brazil
⚖️ | An association for the defense of LGBT rights has filed a complaint against the federation because no player wears number 24 at the Copa America.
️ | This number is often associated with the homosexual community in the country of Seleçao. pic.twitter.com/fwXlqtJw3G
— Last Defenders (@LastDefs) July 1, 2021
For the start of the season, which begins in January with regional tournaments in each of Brazil’s 27 states, only four of the teams in the national first division had players wearing the number 24 in their squad. And three of them are youngsters who have just signed their first professional contract, like 19-year-old Santos midfielder Kevin Malthus.
“It would be nice if all the clubs had a number 24. It’s just a number, associated with a homophobic prejudice. Yet it has been worn by great athletes, like Kobe Bryant”NBA star who died two years ago, Malthus told the Uol news portal.
The most famous number 24 in the Brazilian league today is Colombian international Victor Cantillo, midfielder for Corinthians in Sao Paulo. He was already using this number with his previous club, Junior de Barranquilla. But when he arrived in Brazil in January 2020, Corinthians sporting director Duilio Monteiro Alves caused a scandal by declaring, in a joking tone: “no number 24 here”. The manager finally apologized and the player was able to wear his lucky number.
The Bahia club launched the campaign “respect number” and several players from other teams had swapped their usual number for 24 for one match, such as centre-forward Gabigol from Flamengo.
But two years later, the prejudices persist. The NGO Grupo Arco-Iris (Rainbow Group), which fights for respect for the rights of the LGBT community, recently pointed out the absence of a number 24 in the Flamengo youth team registered for an under 20 tournament.
The association took the Rio de Janeiro club to court, but the case was dismissed, for lack of evidence of any discriminatory practice. During this same tournament, the side Jurandir, number 24 of America Mineiro, was targeted by homophobic chants from supporters. Even the Seleçao, icon of Brazilian football, was splashed by this controversy.
Usually the problem does not arise, as national teams are allowed to bring only 23 players to tournaments. But during the Copa América disputed last year in Brazil, each team could call up to 28 players on an exceptional basis, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All the selections presented themselves with a number 24… except the host country. The number went directly from 23 for goalkeeper Ederson to 25 for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.