RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco have joined the campaign #NúmeroDoRespeito (#NumberOfRespect), which aims to remove the homophobic and derogatory notion from number 24. Botafogo, Fluminense and Santos were the first to join, followed by Bahia, and Flamengo and Vasco this week also embraced the cause.
Brazil’s hugely popular (albeit illegal) Jogo do Bicho numbers game began as a ploy to attract visitors to the Rio zoo. There are 25 numbered zoo animals. Animal number 24 is “veado” or deer. For over a century, however, “veado” has become a homophobic epithet roughly equivalent to “faggot” in English. Hence, Brazilian soccer players traditionally avoid using the number 24 on their jerseys.
At Fluminense, Nenê, one of the most famous players in the squad, will wear the number 24 jersey during the South American Cup.
A number of events led to the start of the #NúmeroDoRespeito campaign. In addition to all the derogatory and homophobic context over number 24, the death of Kobe Bryant (the late basketball idol who wore the number) and Victor Cantillo, who also wore the number 24, being hired by Corinthians and the club having considered not allowing the player to wear the jersey – then changed its mind – # has spread.
The # has become one of the most popular on social media in recent days. Other clubs in the country have joined the campaign.