Opinion – Walter Casagrande Jr.: Day was a slap in the face to those who say that football and politics don’t mix

I want to get into three contradictory matters.

The first is the invasion of Sport fans in the 1-1 draw with Vasco on Ilha do Retiro.

The Pernambuco team was winning the game, when the referee Raphael Klaus correctly scored a penalty for the Carioca team.

The player Raniel scored the goal and went to celebrate in front of the Sport fans, and there was an aggressive reaction: the crowd invaded the field.

To say that the invasion was the result of Raniel’s provocation is a reversal of values.

In my playing days, when the opposing fans took my foot and I scored a goal, they did the same. Romario got tired of asking for silence from the opposing fans. Edmundo rolled to his marker in a classic. Serginho Chulapa always provoked in his celebrations.

The responsibility lies with the lack of security in the stadium, with insufficient police.

Practically the same happened in Castelão, in the tie between Ceará and Cuiabá.

This invasion is also a reflection of what we are going through. Everyone is tense. What is needed, at this moment, is not to underestimate the violence that has spread across the country.

The second subject is the contrast of the times.

On the same day that France Football presented the Ballon d’Or Award, the trial of Neymar (among others) in Barcelona began, on various charges. Among them is private corruption.

I’m not aware of the process and I don’t even make a judgment here, because I don’t even know the size of Neymar’s involvement in this story.

The contrast is that, when he left Santos, everyone expected him to compete several times for the best in the world award.

But while the players are feeling butterflies in their stomachs in anticipation of winning the Ballon d’Or, Neymar must be feeling butterflies in his stomach because he risks imprisonment and a fine if convicted.

Finally, let’s get to the prize itself.

A new era of awards shows in men’s football is beginning, with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the world’s best after more than a decade of rivalry.

The awards started for the best youngster, who was the player Gavi, from Barcelona. He’s really a talent.

The sequence was very special for Brazilians, especially for me. I was thrilled to see my great partner name a category: the name Sócrates rewards the involvement of football characters in social causes.

There was a great emphasis on Raí’s presentation, who did not forget the moment we went through and made the “L” for the world to see that Lula represents our democratic survival.

The winner could not be anyone other than Sadio Mané, who does wonderful social work in Senegal.

Shevchenko’s speeches about the war in Ukraine were also moving but painful.

And for the great Spanish player Putellas, receiving the award from this historic player must have been the most – as it will be, in the future, to see her handing the trophy to someone.

The last three awards were barbadas. The best goalkeeper was the Belgian Courtois, and the Polish Lewandowski took as the top scorer.

And the most anticipated, but also the most predictable: the Golden Ball Award went to Frenchman Benzema. For all he did, he was named the best player of the season.

Beautiful party, of political and social relevance. I hope that those who still say that football and politics don’t mix understand that it’s not wanting or not wanting to mix. This involvement happens naturally, but now there is even an award to highlight it.