Brazilian football legend and two-time World Cup champion Ronaldo Nazario has been appointed to head a newly formed task force aimed at eliminating racism, discrimination, and violence in South American football.
A statement from CONMEBOL said: “Its mission will be to design policies and establish prevention and sanction mechanisms that contribute to eradicating these behaviors that affect both sport and society.”
Ronaldo, now 48, enjoyed a decorated career that saw him lift the World Cup trophy twice, first in 1994 and again in 2002. He officially retired from professional football in 2019.
The decision to create the task force follows a meeting convened by CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez. The gathering included key stakeholders such as government officials, former players, and representatives from player unions, who discussed ongoing issues of racism and discrimination in South American football.
The move also comes in response to recent controversy sparked by Dominguez’s remarks regarding Brazilian clubs pulling out of the Copa Libertadores due to racist incidents.
His comparison, stating that such withdrawals would make the tournament “like Tarzan without Cheetah,” led to widespread backlash.
CONMEBOL, con un equipo encabezado por Ronaldo, dará un paso histórico en el combate contra el racismo, la discriminación y la violencia. ✍🏼
CONMEBOL, con uma equipe encabeçada por Ronaldo, dará um passo histórico na luta contra o racismo, a discriminação e a violência. 📍
— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) March 27, 2025
CONMEBOL has faced mounting demands to take stronger measures against racism. Numerous Brazilian players and fans have experienced racial abuse, particularly in the form of monkey chants during away matches, intensifying the call for stricter enforcement and punishment.
Joining Ronaldo in this initiative will be former FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura and ex-Argentina player Sergio Marchi, who currently serves as the president of FIFPRO South America. Together, they will work on developing policies and actions aimed at eradicating these deep-seated issues from the sport.
