Rio de Janeiro (AFP)

Brazilian Flamengo midfielder Gerson has accused Bahia Colombian Juan Pablo Ramirez of making racist remarks against him on Sunday during a Brazilian Premier League match between the two sides.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in the process asked the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) to "immediately open" an investigation into this "accusation of racism" and the Colombian community was sidelined by its club.

Gerson, 23, said Juan Pablo Ramirez hit him "Shut up, the Black" when he broke into an altercation between Bahia midfielder and teammate Bruno Henrique in the 52nd minute of the Matchday 26 match. won by Flamengo 4-3 at the Maracana.

"I went to talk to him and he answered me like that + Shut up, the Black man +. I never spoke about it (about racism in football, note) because I never suffered from it, but I do not accept that, "assured Gerson after the meeting.

"I'm not going to close it. My fight, the fight of the Blacks, will not stop. It's annoying to always have to talk about racism without the authorities doing anything", launched the player more late at night, in a social media post.

"Ramirez vehemently denies the accusation and he has the opportunity to defend himself against something so serious," Bahia replied in a statement, while announcing "to immediately remove the player from the activities of the team , until the conclusion of the investigation ".

"The club understands that it is essential, indispensable and fundamental that the voice of the victim prevail in cases of this nature", added the Salvador club, which also sacked its coach, Mano Menezes, after the encounter.

Gerson accused Mano Menezes, former Brazil coach (2010-2012), of "disrespecting" him by implying that he tried to use the accusations of racism as a pretext to gain some advantage from the referees.

"It's a scheming," said the coach, according to remarks picked up by the microphones of Premiere television, which broadcast the match.

Bahia did not specify the reason for the dismissal of Mano Menezes.

The latter assured at the press conference following the meeting that Juan Pablo Ramirez "would not be defended" if evidence confirms Gerson's accusations of racism.

The vast majority of Brazilian clubs have expressed their solidarity with the player and condemned racism.

"Any racist behavior in football must be denounced and fought. No voice should be silenced," Sao Paulo, leader of "Brasileirao", said on Twitter.

In Brazil, the last country in the Americas to have abolished slavery, in 1888, racist acts are punishable by one to three years in prison.

© 2020 AFP