Abel Braga’s Controversial Remarks
Abel Braga, the newly appointed head coach of Internacional, a prominent Brazilian football club, has expressed remorse following a homophobic comment regarding his team’s pink training vests. This incident occurred during his introduction on Sunday, where he embarked on his eighth term in charge of the relegation-threatened side.
Incident Details
At 73, Braga humorously recounted a discussion with club director Andres D’Alessandro but inadvertently made a disparaging remark about the color pink, which sparked backlash.
Apology and Commitment
Afterward, the coach, who has committed to a contract with the club until the conclusion of the 2025 Brazilian championship without any salary—that being a stipulation he proposed—took to Instagram to issue an apology. In his message, Braga stated:
“I realize that my comments about the color pink were not appropriate during my press conference. I would like to address this before it escalates further. Colors should not define anyone’s gender; rather, what truly matters is a person’s character. Internacional needs unity and intense effort moving forward. Let’s go, Inter!”
Current Situation of Internacional
Currently, Internacional finds themselves facing a precarious situation, positioned within the relegation zone as they draw level on points with Santos, who hold the final safe spot. Throughout its long-standing 116-year history, the Porto Alegre-based club has only experienced relegation once, making their current plight particularly significant for fans and management alike.
