Football unites races, moves masses and has won the hearts of men, women and children around the world. Whether in stadium stands, on natural lawns or synthetic lawn, football – previously played only by men – is now the choice of many women who dream of pursuing a career in the sport and train hard on their respective teams to get a place in the Brazilian women's football team.
Many professional players, such as the Brazilian Marta, who is considered and elected as the best female football player in the world for five consecutive times – faced the barriers of prejudice and lack of sponsorship to make the women's football a source of pride for the nation.
History of football in Brazil
The football we know today is very different from that brought by Charles Miller to Brazil in the 19th century. Charles William Miller was born in São Paulo in 1874, the son of John Miller, a Scottish railway engineer, and a Brazilian woman of English descent, Carlota Fox.
At the age of ten, he went to study at Banister Court Public School in Southampton, England, where he learned to play cricket and football, developing a particular passion for the latter.
Miller returned to Brazil in 1894, carrying a Football Federation rule book, two worn-out balls, a pair of football boots and old uniforms.
“What do you have there, Charles?” asked Charles' father, John, when he first saw him at the dock. “My diploma,” replied Charles.
Football that enchanted rich and poor
Miller helped build the club's football team São Paulo Athletic Club (SPAC) and also the first football league in Brazil, the Liga Paulista.
The Brazilian of English descent taught football to his white friends and the game quickly became popular among not only the urban elite, but also poor and black children.
The sport, which used to be segregated, gradually began to involve people of all races and social classes. This mix on the field resulted in the Brazilian team winning the 1958 World Cup, led by Pelé and Didi.
This was just the first of many trophies to come, which would serve as an incentive for women to participate in sport.
Role of women in Brazilian football
Although the female presence was becoming stronger in the stands over the years, their effective participation in football on the pitch was still not well regarded.
Because it is a contact sport and more “rough”, those who practice the sport suffered prejudice. But they didn't give up.
In 1958, the first women's football team appeared at Araguari Atlético Clube, which played for a year, only in charity matches. In 1967, Léa Campos was the first woman to train as a football referee.
Despite her achievement, she cannot participate in her own graduation due to sexist reprisals.
In 1988, the first Brazilian women's football team was formed, with players called up to compete in – and win – the “Women's Cup of Spain”.
Currently, it can be said that there is a better structure for women's football in Brazil, with organized championships, more structured clubs and sponsorship for more prominent athletes, including Marta, Formiga, among others.
Synthetic turf helps with better sports performance
When it comes to women's football, even with all the developments, there is still a lot to improve. But many barriers have been overcome and, today, there are more possibilities for those who want to join the sport.
The companies themselves synthetic lawnLike Sports link, encourage the practice of sports by offering lawns that provide better performance for professional and amateur athletes.
A Spinegrass Pro grass, for example, was developed to meet the FIFA standard in synthetic lawns, being a type of grass exclusive for the practice of professional football by high-level athletes.
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