Brazil political divide spills over into the field

RIO DE JANEIRO: Normally, it would be horrible news to football fans anywhere that their team’s star player was injured.

But even as they endured an anguished wait for a Neymar-less Brazil to score in their 1-0 win over Switzerland on Monday, some Brazilians found it hard to miss the injured superstar, who has promised to dedicate his first goal to far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Law student Henrique Melo, 23, desperately wanted Neymar back from the ankle injury that sidelined him in Brazil’s win over Serbia, in which the star sparkled despite failing to find the goal. “The team are missing him,” Melo said.

At the same time, the fact that the world’s most expensive footballer has yet to score “is the best result Brazil’s had in the World Cup,” he joked.

“We would have had all these Bolsonaro supporters celebrating,” said Melo, a supporter of leftist president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

“As a player, Neymar’s incredible – he’s an artist. As a person, he leaves a lot to be desired, not just his political opinions.”

On Rio’s iconic Copacabana beach, where a huge crowd watched the match on a giant screen, 29-year-old vendor Tainara Santana was feeling the same quandary.

“I like football, so I want (Neymar) to play because he’s good. But I can’t say I’m sad he hasn’t scored. It’s great to see Neymar fail,” she laughed.

On the pitch, critics accuse the 30-year-old star of diving and of failing to live up to the hype when it counts. Off the pitch, he has faced accusations of excessive partying, tax fraud and spoiled behavior.

Brazilian football legend Ronaldo rushed to Neymar’s defence on Sunday.

“You’re f***ing Neymar! Giant!” the two-time World Cup winner wrote on Instagram.

“That’s why you have to deal with so much envy and evil, to the point of people celebrating your injury. How low have we sunk?” he said, urging Neymar to “use that hate as fuel.”

In Copacabana, Lula supporter Charleo Luis just wanted to keep politics and football separate.

Neymar haters “are idiots who know nothing about football,” said the 24-year-old street vendor.

“Who cares if he supports Bolsonaro? He’s a great player. I’m a huge fan, I love him.” — AFP