ESPN Brazil Reporter Ricardo Spinelli’s On-Air Coming Out Reignites Debate About Homophobia in Brazilian Soccer

Brazilian sports journalist Ricardo Spinelli of ESPN Brazil publicly came out as gay during a live broadcast in late 2025, using his platform to respond to a recently resurfaced homophobic remark by veteran coach Abel Braga. Spinelli was reporting from Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre during a Sport Club Internacional match when he addressed viewers, colleagues, and his family, stating that he is gay and that he wanted to “put a face” to the slur used against him.

The incident traces back to comments Abel Braga made in 2013, when he was coaching Fluminense and criticized ESPN Brazil’s coverage, allegedly referring to “that little fag from ESPN” in remarks widely understood to be aimed at Spinelli. At the time, the comment drew attention within Brazilian sports media but did not lead to any formal disciplinary action, and Spinelli had not publicly disclosed his sexual orientation.

During the recent ESPN Brazil broadcast, Spinelli explained that he decided to speak now because the resurfaced quote continued to circulate on social media and in press coverage, and he wanted to assert his dignity and humanity in the face of homophobic language. He emphasized that being gay does not diminish his professionalism as a reporter or his love for soccer, and he thanked his partner and family for their support.

Spinelli’s decision to come out publicly places him among a relatively small number of openly gay sports journalists in Brazil, where soccer culture remains strongly shaped by traditional masculinity and where LGBTQ+ people in and around the game often face harassment. Advocacy organizations have documented homophobic chants in stadiums and discriminatory language in commentary, despite ongoing campaigns to promote inclusion.

ESPN Brazil has not publicly reported any disciplinary measures related to Braga’s historical comment, but coverage of Spinelli’s statement in Brazilian outlets has generally highlighted his courage and the symbolic importance of an openly gay journalist occupying a visible role in soccer broadcasting. The moment has also sparked renewed scrutiny of how sports networks address homophobic language by coaches and commentators.

Rights organizations have identified Brazil as a country where LGBTQ+ people face persistent discrimination and violence, and soccer stadiums remain a prominent site where anti-gay slurs are used. The Brazilian Football Confederation has previously been fined and warned over homophobic chants by fans, and campaigns led by clubs and civil society have urged spectators to abandon discriminatory language.

In this context, Spinelli’s visibility as an openly gay sports journalist adds to ongoing efforts to challenge the normalization of homophobia in soccer. LGBTQ+ advocates note that representation in sports media can help counter stereotypes that soccer and other high-profile sports are incompatible with LGBTQ+ identities, and can contribute to safer environments for players, staff, and fans.

International LGBTQ+ organizations have consistently emphasized that public visibility by athletes and sports media professionals can support younger LGBTQ+ people who may feel excluded from athletic spaces. While coming out is a personal decision and safety concerns remain significant in many contexts, examples like Spinelli’s can symbolically affirm that LGBTQ+ people belong throughout the sports world, including on-screen roles that shape how games are narrated and understood.

Spinelli’s on-air statement, Internacional’s public support, and the renewed focus on Abel Braga’s historic comment have together highlighted both the progress and the continuing challenges facing LGBTQ+ inclusion in Brazilian soccer. As debate continues in Brazil’s sporting and media circles, the episode underscores the importance of confronting homophobic language and ensuring that soccer is a space where LGBTQ+ people—on the field, in the stands, and in the broadcast booth—can participate openly and safely.