Brazil's traditional yellow jersey exclusion, but why?
Football World Cup 2022 is knocking at the door. The countdown to the World Football Grand Prix has also started. Last minute preparations are underway in Qatar. Fans are also ready to indulge in the World Cup frenzy. One such football fan is Hugo Ramalho of Brazil. He is ready to enjoy the enthusiasm of the football stadium again after the restrictions have been lifted due to the reduction of corona infection. Although the famous yellow jersey of the Brazilian national team has been lying in Ramalho's closet since 2018, there is a different story behind it.
The last time he wore the emotional jersey was on his birthday. He is not even sure if he will wear it again. But why are you so reluctant to wear your favorite clothes?
In response, 33-year-old Ramalmo said, 'It was a matter of pride for me to wear the yellow jersey. It was a symbol of victory. I don't just wear it to watch matches, I wear it regularly. But now I have stopped wearing the jersey due to political reasons. Because our current president (Jair Bolsonaro) and his supporters have turned the yellow jersey into a symbol of political campaigning and their political party. I do not support their political ideology, I refuse to be one of them.'
The yellow jersey known as the 'Canarinho jersey' has not always been the Brazil national team jersey. It was designed in 1953, three years after their World Cup dream was shattered by Uruguay in 1950 at the Maracana. Until then, the color of the Brazilian national team jersey was white.
A competition was organized by the national football governing body in association with a local newspaper to design a new jersey for the national team. It is stipulated that the new jersey should have the colors of the national flag. This was said to be because the previous jersey 'did not convey the idea of ​​nationality' of Brazil.
Many years have passed since then. Brazil has numerous achievements in the yellow jersey, including a record five World Cups and two Copa America victories. As a result, this yellow jersey has become a symbol of optimism, luck and unity among football fans.
The number 10 jersey of Pele, the all-time top scorer of the Brazilian national team and the only footballer who won the World Cup three times, Ronaldo's number 9 or Romario's number 11 jersey in the 1994 World Cup - these have become part of Brazil's rich and successful history on the field.
But more recently the jersey has been used in political campaigns by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his right-wing supporters. As a result, football fans who are angry with the actions of Bolsonaro, who has been discussed and criticized on various issues, are forced to turn away from the famous yellow jersey.
"Football is an iconic thing for Brazil that brings everyone together most of the time," said Isabela Guedes, a Brazilian supporter. When they (Bolsonaro's right-wing supporters) take away something meaningful for the country and use it for political purposes, it feels like they are stealing it from us. They have turned the national flag and the yellow jersey into political symbols.'
According to Carolina Fontenelle, a researcher at the Laboratory of Media and Sports Studies at Rio de Janeiro State University, this 'abuse' of the jersey was not started by Bolsonaro supporters; The national flag and the image of the Brazil national football team were also used during the military regime in the 1970s.
Brazil's then military ruler, General Medici, played a major role in removing the national team coach before the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. But over time, a strong connection developed between Brazilians and their team jerseys.
According to researcher Fontenelle, since then the yellow jersey has gradually become a part of Brazilian sentiment. They wear the jersey with pride. Because through this they consider themselves part of a group.
Earlier, during the 2013 riots against rising cost of living, corruption and police brutality, another side of the yellow jersey caught the eye. Many people participated in the riots wearing this jersey. And in 2018, the right wing started wearing it.
Carolina Fontenelle said, 'The jersey gives a feeling that you belong to a group and this feeling is lost when a political party starts using it.'
A campaign led by writer and filmmaker Joao Carlos Assumpcao began a couple of years ago. There was a demand to cancel the famous yellow jersey and bring back the white jersey. "We are in a terrible situation with a terrible government stealing the flag," campaigners said.
According to Ademir Takara, librarian and historian at the Football Museum in São Paulo, football is for everyone. People who promote racism, sexism and discrimination are using this jersey, which I don't like. Since 2013 it (Brazilian jersey) has become more political than ever. People of different ideologies are using it. They have chosen this jersey as a tool to implement their own agenda.
Citing her love for the jersey, Marina Moreno, a football fan, said she was disappointed to see the yellow jersey becoming a 'symbol' of the current government. Marina said, 'Such activities of the current president and his supporters are disappointing. I do not support the current government and I do not want to present myself as their supporter. So I have decided not to wear the yellow jersey of Brazil.'
