Are Neymar and Co capable of taking a stand?

The intersection of politics and football is not unusual in history; Brazil is no different. Over the years, many oppressive governments have wrapped their tentacles around their country's beloved sportspeople to garner goodwill with its citizenry. Franco, Mussolini and most pertinent to Brazil, Emelio Medici, are just a few in a long line of 'strong men' who used this tried and tested tactic. Although different from the autocrats mentioned above, Bolsonaro deployed the same technique when he came to power in 2018, ingratiating himself with the country's biggest footballing stars.

Dubbed the Trump of the Tropics, here are some of his most infamous quotes to get an idea of his ideological position.

"I've got five kids, but on the fifth, I had a moment of weakness, and it came out a woman."

In 2000, he said: "I never beat my ex-wife. But I thought of shooting her various times."

Asked how he would react if one of his sons dated a black woman, he said: "I won't discuss promiscuity."

He added: "I don't run that risk because my sons were very well educated."
"You can be sure that if I get there [the presidency], there'll be no money for NGOs. If it's up to me, every citizen will have a gun at home. Not one centimetre will be demarcated for indigenous reserves or quilombolas."

In an interview with Playboy magazine in December 2011, Bolsonaro said that he "would be incapable of loving a homosexual son."

"I would be unable to love a gay son. I won't be a hypocrite here: I would prefer that my son die in an accident rather than appear with a [gay] moustache. For me, he would be dead."

None of these opinions were discreetly uncovered in sting operations or captured on hot mics; these were views freely and proudly offered up. Despite all this, Bolsonaro's appeal to the Brazilian Populous was as enticing as his North American counterpart, winning election in 2018 by pledging to fight crime and corruption that had plagued Brazil for centuries. Like Trump, with the coronavirus, there has finally been a reckoning.

This past week saw mass protests from Brazilians in major cities, devastated by their governments poor - and that's putting it mildly - handling of the pandemic. Brazil has now registered more than 460,000 deaths, second only to the US, to go with the over 16 million cases in total. Bolsonaro has turned to page 1, line 1 in the politician's handbook, faced with falling popularity, senate investigations, and mass demonstrations. When the citizens are unhappy, give them a distraction, Futebol. It's an old cliche, but Brazilian's really do adore football above everything except maybe God. In very broad and, admittedly, simplistic terms, the Brazillian national team brings together one of the world's most diverse populations. Their elite footballing heritage provides a vital, proud cornerstone of their psyche.

It's not completely surprising then that Bolsonaro struck a deal with Conmebol to step in as hosts for next week's Copa America.

Similar to Euro 2020, Copa America was due to take place last summer and co-hosted by Argentina and Colombia. After being postponed by a year, Colombia was removed as hosts last month amid their own widespread protests against the government. Argentina was stripped of their role as hosts soon after due to rising COVID-19 cases leaving Bolsonaro with an opportunity to give himself some breathing room with the masses. That Conmebol revoked Argentina's status due to coronavirus cases and then installed a country with an even worse record in their handling of the disease is ludicrous, to say the least.

True to his 'strong man' image, Bolsonaro has had no problem defending his unilateral decision.

"As far as it is up to me, and all the ministers, including the health minister, it is all decided," Mr Bolsonaro told his supporters in Brasilia.

"From the beginning, I have said about the pandemic: I regret the deaths, but we have to live."

The Brazilian supreme court has given him five days to submit information on the government's decision to host the tournament but going off his usual working relationships; I don't anticipate he'll be particularly forthcoming in his justification.

Now, I do not think sportspeople should be expected to take a stand on social issues. They are obviously in a position of immense influence, and I commend and admire those who have taken a stand, often at the expense of their careers, for issues of the utmost importance. Think Bill Russell, Mohammed Ali, or Colin Capenick, but I understand it takes courage and is not for everyone. However, the situation is slightly different for Brazil and their players, who have endorsed Bolsonaro and have courted his affection over the years; their silence now is deafening. Ultimately, it is an entirely different culture with a unique history, so we can't expect it to be easy for Neymar and co. That being said, more and more Brazillian politicians are calling for them to finally stand in opposition of their now embattled leader, who is unashamedly looking to use them once more as pawns in another ploy to capture the hearts and minds of the Seleção faithful. I'm not holding my breath, but there is an opportunity here for Neymar to eclipse even Pele and begin a new chapter in Brazillian footballing history.