If the national elections here in the UK were held today, the party with the most votes would be the one led by a despicable gentleman called Nigel Farage. He’s one of those politicians who fill voters with empty promises and love fake news. He was one of the creators of Brexit —the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union— telling the British that immigrants stole their jobs and were terrorists.
Not satisfied with seeing the country more isolated, divided and poor after the divorce from the Europeans, he created the far-right Reform UK party. He says he will also expel some of the legal immigrants. He tries to gain the sympathy of football fans. He launched a uniform with the flag of the United Kingdom and the shield with the phrase “Family, Community and Country.” Uses sport to create the idea of belonging in white working-class men. He says that the country has a young generation “lost” because of immigration. Right in a nation whose league is the best in the world thanks to the diversity of talent.
In the 80s, hooliganism drove the public away from the stadiums and affected national identity. In the following decades, far-right groups such as the English Defense League used the St. George’s Cross on the English flag as a political symbol. The tactic of associating patriotism with sport is not uncommon. Any similarity with the attempted kidnapping of Brazil’s yellow jersey, years ago, is not a mere coincidence.
The Fla-Flu that the endless debate over whether or not to take Neymar to the World Cup has become is a reflection of the extreme polarization in Brazil, amplified by politics and multiplied by the garbage that social networks have become. Polarization, even encouraged by the player — “Vote, vote and confirm, 22 is Bolsonaro” in 2022 — remember? Is it worth taking someone who is inconsistent on the field, a time bomb on and off it, in exchange for a few minutes of brilliant play? If so, there will be new discussions — will he be a starter or not? What’s the next controversy?—which takes the focus away from more relevant issues.
On Monday (18), when Carlo Ancelotti announces the list of 26 players who will go to the World Cup, the coach unintentionally inherits part of our sad recent past. He has no fault or responsibility for this, but he will have the indirect challenge of trying to regain the Brazilian’s pride in the national team’s shirt. Its appropriation by Bolsonarism has consequences to this day. Of course, the lack of a world title since 2002 greatly increases distrust with the team, but many people do not want to wear Brazil’s uniform and be placed in a political context with which they do not identify. In my case, the only yellow shirt I wear is the women’s one, with Marta’s name on it.
Ancelotti genuinely demonstrates an “old-school” love for Brazil’s beautiful yellow shirt. Like many Europeans, he looks from the outside, without ideology, with admiration. It’s great to have renewed it until 2030. It will have more time and can, even without wanting to — I repeat, it has no responsibility or obligation — help show that national symbols do not need to be linked to intolerance. The only issue is that, nowadays, for certain people, learning values like respect can be more difficult than bringing hexa.
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