Brazil vs Peru: Copa America circus leaves brutal aftertaste after Jair Bolsonaro hijacks tournament

Brazil 3-1 Peru: Goals from Everton, Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison clinched the trophy for the hosts

Yesterday morning, the son of the Brazilian president was busy on social media. One of the most influential people in the country’s politics based on who he is rather than what he’ll ever amount to, Carlos Bolsonaro showed the dangers of handing idiocy the microphone. “When it’s hot, possible global warming is always blamed, so what is it called when it’s colder than normal?” he asked. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Across town, his father was causing quite a panic for those officials high up and low down within Conmebol. Jair Bolsonaro had plans to take to the pitch if and when Brazil got their hands on this Copa America, with one source saying he wanted to lift the trophy. This after all is a team that is fast coming to represent his far-right outlook of the country.

In a realm where the likes of Celtic are fined for politicising football via a waving of Palestine flags, this would be an outrageous abuse of the tournament for his own ego and his own aspirations. Granted, it wouldn’t be a first.

What’s this to do with football, you rightly ask?

Well nothing. And absolutely everything.

Last week, one of sport’s more shocking modern incidents occurred and it was both telling and troubling that it hardly caused a ripple and passed by with barely a whimper. Argentina-Brazil, even if they’re right now a relatively pale imitation of their former and glorious selves, as a stand-alone fixture is arguably the greatest in international sport, probably only rivaled by India-Pakistan on a cricket pitch. But during that semi-final the president took over, leaving the VIP section as he was carried shoulder high onto the field at the interval, waving a Brazilian flag above his head as the stadium in Belo Horizonte went rabid to a point of hysteria.

Five years ago today in that very arena, many present thought they’d seen the most stunning the sport can offer during the 7-1 World Cup semi-final, but his parade caused a greater shock and was far more significant. Think Adolf Hitler and the Berlin Olympics for a little context around both the man and the moment.

Yesterday, Bolsonaro arrived to the Maracana during the opening ceremony, meaning the crowd turned away from the cheesy pop and decent dancing, staring up at their man. And make no mistake, when it comes to the Brazil national team and the majority of their fans, he is their man. One who has called immigrants scum, who said black activists should be in a zoo, who proclaimed that if his son were gay then he’d be happier if he was dead, who shoved a female senator and said she was too ugly to rape, who suggested the military dictatorship made a mistake by not slaughtering more people.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro celebrates with the team (AP)

Their man.

You can guess the class and colour most come from too as sadly one of the games journalists play around this team and their matches is trying to spot a black supporter in a land where they make up the majority.

Few are naive enough anymore to think that sport and politics don’t mix when actually past a certain level the latter is massively more prevalent within the former. Yet even being more than aware of that, Bolsonaro at this tournament took it to a new level, with both chucked into the blender and becoming inseparable. That should not and can not be ignored for what we had here was a mere football competition being allowed to push such a fascist agenda.

This isn’t about politics, rather xenophobia and racism and misogyny and homophobia.

That is the brutal aftertaste that’s been left as the circus packs up and leaves town.

* * *

The Brazil team is a curious case.

Across the early part of this century, a side so intertwined with the national psyche took a turn and went full-on corporate. Nike came on board. Their friendlies started to be against whoever would pay them enough and took them away from home. There are even suggestions that the American company at times dictated selection and line-ups.

It was the start of a chunk of the country falling out of love with what they once held so close and this has only sped up in recent years. Since Bolsonaro’s rise to power, his supporters have hijacked the flag and the yellow jersey and made it their symbol and their badge of honour.

For those less well off in one of the most divided socities on the planet, it’s become hard to stomach for this has become about nationalism rather than national pride, about angry red-faced jingoism rather than a more simple joy.

Everton celebrates the opener for Brazil (AFP/Getty)

It’s a pity as it detracts from this Brazil title, one they completely deserved as they were by a distance the best side on show. Not that it would have been that hard. The Asian imports came and went, barely dragging a glance; Colombia and Uruguay promised but ultimately lied; Chile raged against the dying of the light only for it to suddenly go dark; it was too soon for Venenzuela; Bolivia tried but weren’t good enough; Ecuador barely tried; Paraguay came so close but paid the cruelest of penalties after the most brave of performances; Messi couldn’t lift his country from the mire, proving no one man – even he – can do it all; Peru were a glorious side-story and sub-plot but were never going to make it to centre stage.

Which left the hosts.

A relatively elite team in a competition that often reminded more of the second division of the Nations League back in Europe, Tite had them mostly organised and that has to be respected given the calamity he took over, as he removed a panicked and scattergun approach for the most part. Built on Allison who carried on his club form to the point he may become the first goalkeeper since Manuel Neuer in 2014 to make a top-three appearance in the Ballon D’or vote, Daniel Alves was also a throwback to his younger and better years, and Gabriel Jesus was the best player overall, even if his petulance when sent-off in this final detracted from so much mesmerising play on the wing.

Gabriel Jesus scored and was sent off in the final (Getty)

And still. It feels unfulfilling. It feels dirty. It feels wrong. It could have been so different.

After weeks of half-full stadia, Conmebol fought a PR war around the idea of profits rather than interest and appeal and access despite there not being a single full house. You couldn’t pick up tickets at grounds, instead usually having to queue on the other sides of cities in up-scale shopping malls just to get a peek at what often was out and out mediocrity. As for getting to see their own country, just as at the World Cup most Brazilian fans of the game were priced out and kept away. It meant that to speak to locals who go to games week in and out, and they’d tell you they cannot wait for the club season to return after this awkward and irritating interruption to what is their true love.

Considering what we imagine about football in Brazil, that division is a great tragedy.

It was far from alone in that word being applicable.

What you want in a Copa America is to get a feel of the local, but this was sanitised. During the Brazilian league we are used to the food trucks and cheap beer and tailgating all around the grounds, but such sellers and therefore such a wonderfully native atmosphere were kept away, leaving this cold and surgical and the same as so much else.

Richarlison celebrates his penalty (AFP/Getty)

Instead of that usual and unique passion, what showed up was a crowd that were often classless and not always understanding of the nuance of the game as this was mere entertainment for them. In the end though they got what they wanted, in terms of the victors and in terms of getting an opening to witness the shameless carry on of their president. Indeed by last night, Jair Bolsonaro meandered over to the team that were taking pictures with trophy and got in the huddle, again making this about him and his popularity and his politics. Many roared him on and waved to him.

Asking coach Tite about just that afterwards, Conembol’s official first tried to block the question, and when an answer came it was a deflection and frankly a rambling nonsense. “I’m so involved with football, I know things happen. But the way I’ve been brought up, my focus and essence, it’s on football. The other situations, they are a totally separate thing.”

It was as disappointing as wrong but not as disappointing and wrong as the abiding memory.

High above the Maracana, the Christ the Redeemer statue stares out at the sea, his back to the stadium. JC can be thankful for that as he didn’t have to witness what went down. The rest of us did though.

It’ll sadly be a sorry lasting image from this Copa America.