Brazilian World Cup stars arrive in Australia with protest on side of plane – here’s what it means

The Brazilian football team has arrived in Australia for the Women’s World Cup on a plane with a stunning political protest painted down its sides.

The players touched down in Brisbane on Wednesday morning on a Boeing with the words ‘No woman should be forced to cover her head’ and ‘No man should be hanged for saying this’ painted on either side of the fuselage.

The tail of the aircraft featured black and white images of Iranians Mahsa Amini and Amir Nasr Azadani.

Amini died in custody after being arrested by Iran’s ‘morality police’ last year for wearing a hijab too loosely, sparking mass protests across the country.

Azadani is an Iranian footballer who was arrested during the protests and sentenced to 26 years in prison.

The Brazilian stars touched down in Brisbane with the words ‘No woman should be forced to cover her head’ and ‘No man should be hanged for saying this’ written on their aircraft

The poignant statement from Brazil comes after FIFA’s decision to ban players from wearing rainbow armbands in support of LGBQT+ rights at the Women’s World Cup this year.

Last Friday, FIFA unveiled eight officially approved armbands that captains will be permitted to wear during the tournament, all of which are designed to ‘unite’ people around certain social issues, including peace and world hunger.

Australian captain Sam Kerr said she will not wear a rainbow captain’s armband at the World Cup to avoid ‘putting everything at risk’ – despite admitting her and her teammates would ‘love to wear them’.

The Matildas superstar said the risk of picking up yellow cards from donning the band was too great and would threaten to derail Australia’s campaign at their home tournament.

‘Obviously we would love to wear it – like most of the teams in the whole world, everyone has voiced that they would love to wear it,’ Kerr said.

The United States and Europe are considered the powerhouses in women’s football, but Brazil is hot on their heels.

Going into her sixth World Cup, 36-year-old Brazil star Marta is considered one of the best players of all time in women’s football – though she is yet to win the World Cup.

The superstar, who has been the world player of the year six times, has confirmed that this will be her last World Cup.

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The plane also featured paintings of Iranians Mahsa Amini (pictured) and Amir Nasr Azadan 

Brazil’s stars are pictured on board the jet on their way Down Under

‘We have to understand that a time comes for us to prioritise other things,’ she said.

‘Having the chance of going to another World Cup, my sixth, is surreal to me.’ 

Brazil is one of three teams from South American in the tournament, and will battle in Group F France, Jamaica and Panama.

Brazil’s opening game of the tournament is against Panama on July 24 in Adelaide.

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