All it took was a misunderstanding from Josh Jacobs to start out a firestorm across the Packers vs. Eagles season opener in São Paulo, the primary time an NFL recreation will happen in Brazil.
On Thursday, Jacobs made an off-hand touch upon Chris Lengthy’s podcast saying that Inexperienced Bay was instructed by the NFL they aren’t allowed to put on inexperienced in Brazil due to the chance of gang violence.
”You understand, they mentioned that the a part of Brazil we’re going to, you may’t even put on inexperienced in any respect. They mentioned, I suppose, one thing to do with the gangs and stuff.”
Jacobs saved hammering residence this concept that going to Brazil was going to be ludicrously harmful for gamers, saying they had been instructed they may not be allowed to go away their lodge rooms, and positing that they may be adopted by armored automobiles and guards wherever they go.
This sparked a frenzy, with dozens of shops parroting Jacobs’ phrases with out bothering to see in the event that they had been even true. Deeply rooted in xenophobia, it painted Brazil as a rustic the place NFL gamers could be focused at each flip, elevating questions of why the league would despatched gamers to a rustic the place their lives may be in fixed hazard.
Because it seems Jacobs claims had been complete and utter bullshit. On Friday morning he supplied an apology, merely saying he was “misinformed.”
The harm was already carried out. Now the NFL is making an attempt its finest to battle the misinformation. The league is saying there is no such thing as a safety threat, there is no such thing as a gang threat, gamers won’t be confined, there are not any plans for armored autos, and there will probably be no bans on uniform decisions for the sport. Basically all the pieces Jacobs mentioned was flawed, however that hasn’t stopped it being the brand new prevailing sentiment in regards to the recreation being performed in Brazil.
There’s a sliver of reality to inexperienced being a problematic shade, however it has completely nothing to do with gangs. The Packers vs. Eagles recreation is about to happen at Neo Química Enviornment, residence of Brazilian soccer crew Corinthians. Their colours are black and white, and their No. 1 rival Palmeiras wears inexperienced.
So, any backlash over the colour inexperienced isn’t gang associated, however it’s about two groups who predominantly put on inexperienced jerseys enjoying in a stadium that hates the colour inexperienced. Any dialogue of uniform modifications possible had nothing to do with potential violence, however respect for his or her hosts.
As well as, it’s been identified that dozens of groups have worn inexperienced within the Corinthians stadium earlier than, and it’s by no means prompted any form of unrest. Particularly contemplating the NFL recreation wouldn’t occasion register as a part of this soccer rivalry.
This “my unhealthy” from Josh Jacobs is sweet. A minimum of he apologized. Nonetheless, the harm is already carried out. Brazil has been painted within the eyes of many as a lawless hellscape that shouldn’t be internet hosting an NFL recreation, all due to Jacobs’ woefully incorrect feedback.
There are myriad social points in Brazil, rampant revenue inequality points, and sure like every main cities there’s gang exercise. Nonetheless, there is no such thing as a hazard to NFL gamers for merely enjoying a recreation within the nation. It’s a disgrace we even must debunk rubbish like this.
