Immediate and negative repercussions prompted the veteran coach to withdraw hours later on social media
November 30
2025
– 11:30 pm
(Updated at 11:30 p.m.)
Photo: Disclosure / SC Iternacional – Caption: Abel Braga in his presentation for the 8th mission in Colorado / Jogada10
Abel Braga published a message containing an apology after making a homophobic comment during his presentation on Sunday (30) as coach of Internacional in the team’s last two matches in the Brazilian championship. In a joking tone, he spoke of an internal conversation and said: “I don’t want any more people from my team training in pink shirts, they look like gay teams.”
The fallout was immediate and negative, prompting the veteran coach to retract hours later on social media.
“Colorado and Colorados, I realize I didn’t mention pink enough during the press conference. Before this gets out, I apologize. Colors do not define races, what defines them is personality. Internacional needs peace and a lot of work. Let’s go, let’s go Inter!“.
Internacional occupies 17th place in the standings with 41 points, the same score as Santos, the first club outside the relegation zone, but with a lower goal difference. There are only two rounds left to determine the team’s future: against São Paulo and Red Bull Bragantino, in Vila Belmiro and Beira Rio, respectively. Appel’s mission is clear: avoid the second relegation in the club’s history.
Uncertain future
Taking up his position at this crucial moment, Abel Braga made it clear that he does not intend to continue as coach in 2026. But he did not rule out the possibility of staying at the club in another position. In response to Future, he mentioned his partnership with D’Alessandro off the field:
“It is possible to stay in another position. This is the guy we would love to work with. Who knows…but what worries me now are these few days. In football, it is impossible to predict the future.
Before the coach’s statements in a press conference, Alessandro Barcelos, president of Internacional, revealed the scenes of the deal, and revealed that Abel requested not to receive wages at the club.
“This first contact became a final call and, in a short time, the club responded positively by accepting this very important challenge for us at such a difficult time as we are going through. It is important to highlight that it is Appel’s decision to ask to come at such a difficult time on an unpaid contract. This was Appel’s decision and request,” the agent stated.
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