One of our members was fortunate enough to fly the blue flag for Leicester City and Union FS out in Brazil for the group stages of the 2014 World Cup. Taking in games in Salvador, Recife, Natal and Porto Alegre, here’s the story of the journey and the fan culture he experienced in South America.
FIFA GO HOME. That was the tagline appropriated by the British press in the weeks leading up to the federation’s show-piece event as the overbearing emotion demonstrated by the locals in Brazil. Coverage of protestations by the Brazilians, disenfranchised by their government’s alleged overspending on the tournament and the 2016 Summer Olympics was recycled endlessly to fill column inches and news reports.
One could be forgiven for thinking that they were heading to a country not bothered about football. It would be naïve to believe that the money spent on providing the necessary infrastructure all over this behemoth of an emerging nation could not have been spent more wisely elsewhere. But this is Brazil. A country thoroughly obsessed with the sport.
On arrival in Salvador, it was immediately apparent that those disturbed by their country’s profligacy in hosting the ‘Copa’ would be outshouted massively by the excited majority of Brazilians. Salvador, the capital of Afro-Brazilian culture, was in the mood to party – particularly after the Seleҫӓo had dispatched Croatia in the opening fixture – and welcome the hordes of Dutch fans that our connecting flight from Lisbon (amongst others) had delivered to the Bahian city ahead of their 5-1 demolition job of Spain. Kids of all ages danced and sang throughout the night with the Oranje who dominated the city’s historic centre, Pelourinho. Spanish fans were few and far between – hardly surprising given the apparent ‘can’t be arsed to travel’ culture prevalent in their national league structure.
Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
Not much needs to be said about the game in Salvador itself. You will have all likely seen the Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben inspired rout of the reigning World Champions. The Arena Fonte Nova, conveniently plonked in the middle of several Salvadorian favelas, shuddered in disbelief after each second-half goal for the Dutch hit the back of Iker Casillas’ net. Walking outside the stadium, the evening was capped with the pleasure of seeing several locals rock Sepp Blatter’s heavily escorted car as it attempted to make a swift getaway, presumably towards his private jet.
Filbo Spirit 