Is there football in the flood?
🆘 How 'the good football' is showing up in the midst of the catastrophe in the south of Brazil
Hey there,
I know I’ve been quiet for a while - the post that was supposed to go out last Thursday is still sitting in my drafts. It turned out to be a bit bolder than what I’ve written here so far, so I gave myself a little more time to press the publish button.
Then the flooding in the south of Brazil happened, and even though Wednesday is not the day you’re used to hearing from me and the following post was supposed to be about anti-racism campaigns, here I am on a Wednesday writing about something else. It is all I can think about right now, and the other things can wait.
If you haven’t seen it in the news yet, the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, which rests on the southern tip of our country, is experiencing historic flooding. It is a catastrophe unlike anything most of us Brazilians have ever seen happening in the country. Multiple cities have been affected, thousands of families lost their houses, hundreds of people are still missing, and the weather forecast doesn’t bring good news for the upcoming days. I am honestly shocked at how little attention this situation is getting from the global media. My social media feeds are piled up with videos and photos of people and animals being rescued, flooded streets, devastation, and a little bit of hope from those who are relentlessly helping.
Rio Grande do Sul is a very important state for Brazilian football. Its capital houses two of the country’s biggest and most traditional clubs, and several iconic players and managers of our history came from this state - Ronaldinho, Taffarel, and Felipão are a few examples.
The local clubs and, thus, the national and South American leagues were obviously directly affected by this catastrophe, but football is also showing up as a helping tool. I compiled a few of my favorite ways the good football is being present amid the tragedy:
Fortaleza EC and its simple yet powerful message
The Brazilian club found, in my opinion, the perfect way to move its fans about the issue: photos that simulate the same situation happening to their own facilities and an invite to donate “because it could have been us.” Brilliant.
Football players getting their hands dirty (literally) to help rescue people
Multiple athletes from the local clubs are working on the frontlines, rescuing and helping people and animals in different cities. Grêmio’s Diego Costa and goalkeeper Caíque, portrayed below, are some of them.
Santos midfielder Giuliano’s post-game interview
While most clubs and the Brazilian National Football Federation stand against the suspension of the national championship, Guiliano’s statement was probably the most eloquent we got from a player these past days. Here are some excerpts from it:
‘What is the price of a life? Can a goal compensate for the price of a life? Stadiums are full while others are suffering. It is a moment of reflection for us, Brazilians love football. But to what extent is it worth not stopping football and letting people suffer? I think it is a moment of reflection for Brazilian football, that we must show solidarity. Football is in the background. We must love people, human beings.
I think a stoppage is very important. Not just for training, but for a psychological reconstruction of the players, of the people who have suffered until we are able to resume the championship.
We are influencers and examples. When we take a stand and come together, we have strength, the country looks at us. It is a time when we need each other. We put ourselves in the shoes of these people. Imagine the pain, when the water subsides, what will it be like? In this process, we need everyone. I would like to congratulate those who are helping.
Fans coming together
Most of the Brasileirão clubs are collecting donations and coordinating help efforts among their fans, who are showing up. Multiple players are also using their platforms to engage fans and find different ways to help.
Community service ‘Gre-Nal’
The biggest derby in Rio Grande do Sul is named Gre-Nal, and these days, both Grêmio and Internacional’s social media platforms have become spaces for public service, helpful information, donation instructions, and inspiration from the images of the helpers. Right now, the people in Porto Alegre are only concerned about surviving and keeping safe, and it is only fair that their football teams would prioritize the same things. Life comes first, and football is secondary.
The Good Surf
Beyond football, a group of surfers became a source of inspiration and pride for Brazilians everywhere. Giant wave surfer Pedro Scooby gathered a team of fellow surfer friends, and they all drove 24 hours to get to Rio Grande do Sul, where they have been using jetskis and boards to rescue people and animals. When this newsletter was written, they had already reached 200 people rescued in a couple of days. Today (May 8th), Olympic champion Italo Ferreira announced he had arrived in the affected areas to join his friends.
If this is not a perfect example of sports serving people when they need it the most, I don’t know what it is.
For more information on responses to the tragedy and updates on the situation, read the latest
newsletter, which is doing a great job covering the situation. Thank you, Fran, for your work!It is nice to see how a sport that is weaved into the identity and life of Brazil can come through for the people in moments like these, but what is happening in Rio Grande do Sul makes it clear that football needs to be preventing more than it is reacting to catastrophes such as this.
If football doesn’t start prioritizing environmental and climate action, it will likely become superfluous shortly. When lives are on the line and survival is the first need, there is no time, resource, motivation, or room (and stadiums!) for football. Maybe what it will take to finally flip this switch is the fans, the people pushing for this agenda more than ever before.
At the end of the day, when everything falls apart, it is the people for the people. Right now, in Rio Grande do Sul, it is not the institutions, organizations, companies, or even the government doing the most to save and keep lives - it’s the people. And football is all about the people - or at least it should be. If it’s not, it’s wrong. It’s in its people that its power resides.
Here’s a Brazilian song that talks about that and has been playing in my head all day.
THE GOOD LINK
Here is one of the campaigns you can donate to in euros - I just sent mine. There is also a link for donations in US dollars and another one for pound sterling. You can also access the main campaign page here.
I will be donating the May Substack subscriptions as well.
Stay safe, and talk to you soon!