Copa America 2019: Far-right president Bolsonaro booed as Brazil win ninth title in Rio de Janeiro

Controversial leader receives jeers amid low approval ratings and economic problems

Brazil’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro was booed on Sunday while attending the final of the Copa America football tournament in Rio de Janeiro.

Mr Bolsonaro, accompanied by several cabinet ministers, received mostly jeers from the 70,000 fans at Maracana Stadium after Brazil defeated Peru to win their ninth title.

The hostile response came at the end of a tournament in which the controversial leader has been accused of using the competition for political gain.

Since taking office in January, Mr Bolsonaro's approval ratings have fallen from nearly 50 per cent to 32 per cent, according to Ibope polling, amid Brazil’s continuing economic problems and political infighting.

Mr Bolsonaro said on Friday he would attend the match as a test of his popularity.

Although the response was a clear sign of disapproval with the current president, it is not unusual for politicians to be booed at the Maracana, where political dissent is common.

Brazil’s past three presidents – Michel Temer, Dilma Rousseff and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva - have all been booed at major sporting events while in office.

After the jeers, Mr Bolsonaro joined players on the pitch to pose with the trophy, with some, such as Fagner and Lucas Paqueta, cheering him on.

Others appeared to keep their distance from the president and the team’s coach, Tite, avoided being hugged.

Mr Bolsonaro was accused of making a “clear political demonstration” during his appearance at Brazil’s semifinal match with Argentina on Tuesday.

Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, wrote to the South American football association objecting to Mr Bolsonaro's “lap of honour” around the stadium at halftime.

Under Fifa rules, political demonstrations are prohibited at sporting events.

Mr Bolsonaro was also booed during the semifinal match but brushed off the jeers, claiming they were for Argentina, not him.

Dani Alves, Brazil’s captain, has addressed the controversy around the president’s appearances at the Copa America and said it did not bother him to receive the trophy from Mr Bolsonaro.

"He's our president. We must respect him,” he said.

“As Brazilian citizens, we [the players], like him, represent a nation. Respect in a society is the first step to be taken to build a truly great country.”

Agencies contributed to this report