"Brazilian clubs write to FIFA, CONMEBOL demanding action on the ‘crime of racism that plagues soccer’", 12 March 2025

...Brazilian club Palmeiras and the bodies representing professional clubs in the country have written to FIFA and CONMEBOL demanding action after another high-profile incident of racism in South America.

The 19-page letter, which has been seen by The Athletic, was sent in the wake of the racist abuse suffered by Palmeiras Under-20 forward Luighi during his side’s CONMEBOL Libertadores Under-20 fixture against Cerro Porteno in Paraguay on March 6. Luighi, 18, was seen in tears following the incidents — in which opposition fans targeted Palmeiras players with monkey chants and gestures, the letter says — and later wrote on social media that the abuse “hurts the soul”.

“The Brazilian clubs reiterate the need for new measures to combat racism to be taken immediately, and for not only the clubs’ request, but also the plea of the players and other victims to be heard, and for the Luighi case to be the last time we deal so unpreparedly and unpunished with the crime of racism that plagues soccer,” the letter reads.

Cerro Porteno were fined $50,000 by CONMEBOL — the governing body of South American football — over the Palmeiras incidents and fans have been banned from attending matches for the remainder of the Libertadores Under-20 tournament. As reported by Reuters, Palmeiras president Leila Pereira called the punishment “absurd,” and the Brazil Football Federation (CBF) said it had filed a complaint to CONMEBOL requesting tougher measures...

They have requested that “FIFA and CONMEBOL immediately reform their regulations in order to institute anti-racism measures that have an effect on stopping racial violence”...

“We call for a review of the sanctions laid down by CONMEBOL and FIFA, so that new measures can be applied to effectively combat racism, ending the impunity of perpetrators and conniving clubs,” the letter adds.

The Brazilian clubs have requested a meeting with FIFA and CONMEBOL to discuss the issues raised and have provided a list of measures they wish to see enforced...