Brazil soccer team suffers racist abuse against Tunisia

Brazil have condemned the racist abuse of Richarlison after the forward had a banana and other objects thrown at him in their 5-1 friendly win over Tunisia in Paris.

The incident took place after the Tottenham striker celebrated scoring Brazil’s second goal.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said it “reinforced its position to combat racism” and “repudiates any display of prejudice”.

Brazil had posed with an anti-racism banner prior to kick-off that read: ‘Without our black players, we wouldn’t have stars on our shirts’

CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues added: “Whether on or off the field, attitudes like this cannot be tolerated.”

Rampant Brazil destroyed 10-man Tunisia with Raphinha scoring twice and setting up another goal in their last game before the World Cup.

But victory at the Parc des Princes in Paris was overshadowed by the racist incident.

Tuesday’s drubbing was another dominant performance by the South American giants who beat Ghana 3-0 on Friday, giving their fans plenty of reasons to be excited by their young team heading into Qatar.

Raphinha opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a header from the edge of the area over goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen. However, Tunisia equalised seven minutes later with an opportunistic header by Montassar Talbi from a free kick.

Brazil were back in front a minute later though when Raphinha found Richarlison ghosting behind the defence and the striker fired a low shot between the keeper’s legs.

During the goal celebrations a banana was thrown from the stands towards the Brazil players, who have been vocal against racism after Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr was racially abused by Atletico fans before their recent derby.

The Selecao extended their lead through a Neymar penalty in the 29th minute and Raphinha scored his second with a precise low shot from the edge of the area in the 40th after a lightning counter-attack.

Two minutes later, Tunisia defender Dylan Bronn received a straight red card for a foul on PSG star Neymar.

With victory assured, Brazil eased off in the second half as manager Tite sent on several substitutes.

Flamengo forward Pedro, the biggest sensation in the Brazilian league this season, came on and netted the fifth with a superb first-time shot from the edge of the box in the 74th.

Brazil will open their World Cup campaign against Serbia on November 24 and also face Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G.

In other friendlies, Uruguay beat Canada 2-0 in Slovakia with Darwin Nunez scoring one of the goals. Ecuador drew 0-0 with Japan in Germany while the United States and Saudi Arabia also finished scoreless in Spain.

Spain beat Portugal in Nations League

Spain have snatched a place in the UEFA Nations League final four after striker Alvaro Morata’s late goal secured a 1-0 win over hosts Portugal to ensure top spot in their group.

Portugal had dominated Tuesday’s match but in the 88th minute, a long ball into the box from Spain defender Dani Carvajal was headed by Nico Williams across to Morata. He lashed it into the net to silence most of the sold-out stadium in Braga.

Spain finished top of Group A2 on 11 points from six games, one point above Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal who only needed a draw to secure a place in the semi-finals.

The Spaniards join Croatia, Italy and the Netherlands in next year’s finals tournament.

“It was a difficult game but I stay with the attitude of the team. We have made a great effort,” Morata said.

“Every time that Spain have to show up in big games we do it. That’s how we do it and tonight we did it again.”

In the group’s other match, hosts Switzerland beat already relegated Czech Republic 2-1.

In the second tier, Scotland drew 0-0 away to Ukraine in neutral Poland to gain promotion – passing relegated England on the way.

Scotland, who started the inaugural edition of the competition in League C, finished top of Group B1 on 13 points – two ahead of Ukraine.

At the other end of the table, Republic of Ireland let slip a 2-0 lead to Armenia conceding goals in the 71st and 73rd minutes. Another for the visitors would have sent the Irish down but instead they were awarded an added-time penalty after VAR revealed Artak Dashyan had handled on the line.