Russia in unofficial cup redefines alternative football – 05/31/2023 – Sport

The playing of the Russian anthem with the players lined up side by side, some with their right hands on the left side of their chests, meant that the alternative football definitions had been updated.

In May 2023, the Russian under-17 team traveled to São Paulo to participate in a tournament not sponsored by FIFA (International Football Federation), CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) or FPF (Paulista Football Federation) and faced Nacional in the traditional stadium on Rua Comendador Souza, in São Paulo.

“I wanted to see that. But they decided to close the gates”, complained Manoel Martins, bored and nonconformist, sitting at the bar table next to the entrance to the stands.

The same irritation was seen in the fans of Flamengo de Guarulhos, which received the European team last Saturday (27). The club’s website announced last week that the match would be held with free admission. Fans were banned from entering at the request of Russia’s consul general in Sao Paulo, Vladimir Tokmakov, officials said.

The diplomat kicked off the game played at the Antônio Soares de Oliveira stadium, which Russia won 3-1. On Monday (29), at Comendador Souza, it was a massacre: 7-0.

“The option we have is to play football in Brazil”, replied, dry and through a translator, the coach of the under-17 team, Denis Pertvushin.

In normal situations, its athletes should be in Budapest playing in the Eurocup of the category. Russia won the tournament in 2006. It had already done the same in 1985, when the tournament was still under-16.

Football in the European country is suspended by FIFA because of the invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war. National teams were unable to participate in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The team was withdrawn from the fight for a vacancy for the World Cup in Qatar last year.

Next Friday (2), the date of the Eurocopa final, the Brics Cup will also be defined, a tournament organized by the International Forum of Brics Municipalities. The entity, not linked to governments, intends to promote exchange and cooperation between the countries of the bloc. The acronym means the commercial alliance between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The technical organization is carried out by those responsible for the Paulista Cup, an alternative tournament, not recognized by the FPF, which takes place every year in the capital.

Despite the acronym of the block, there are no teams from India, China and South Africa, only from Brazil and Russia. In addition to the national team, Zenit, from Saint Petersburg, is also in Brazil.

“We are interested in teams from 15 countries that want to participate next year”, stated Devanir Cavalcante, ambassador of the International Forum of Brics Municipalities. He is also undersecretary of Culture in Guarulhos, one of the cities that donate stadiums for the competition.

The investment for realization is not high. The Brazilian teams are all from São Paulo, from the capital (Nacional, Juventus, Corinthians and Palmeiras), from Greater São Paulo (Flamengo) and from the coast (Santos). According to Cavalcante, when the Russian team and Zenit accepted the invitation, they undertook to pay their own expenses.

They are the attraction. The only audience present at the stadiums is made up of organizers, some scouts, employees and guests of the consulate. This meant that, at Nicolau Alayon, more Russian was spoken than Portuguese.

The restriction is due to fear of protests because of the war in Ukraine.

For Russian authorities, it is a chance for the country’s teams to play abroad, take Russia’s image and circumvent the embargo to international competitions. Even if this happens in situations they are not used to. Striker Viktor Okishor mentioned the condition of the lawn at Nacional’s stadium. Holes and patches covered with dirt were visible. The balls didn’t look like new.

Cavalcante says there is an idea for a pre-season tournament in Qatar, with the presence of professional squads from Brazilian clubs and other BRICS nations. He said he had already maintained contact with leaders from Santos and Flamengo. It would be something along the lines of the Florida Cup in the United States. The teams do not confirm the conversations.

The presence of the Russian team and Zenit was what attracted Palmeiras and Santos.

“Our under-17s are in the semifinals of the Copa do Brasil, the under-20s are in Holland and the under-15s are also going to Europe. The under-15s are in the Premier Cup, at Granja Comary. So, it’s a great opportunity for under-16 athletes, because we’re not looking for results. The tournament is good, it allows you to play against the Russian national team, against Zenit… This is important for our players”, analyzed João Paulo Sampaio, coordinator of the base of Palmeiras.

The football experience has been new for Russian players, but they have experienced it in different ways. Those from Zenit went to Santos to meet the club’s CT and visited the Pelé Museum. They were taken to the beach in the city and entered the sea. Advised of the water temperature, they laughed because it is really cold in Russia, they replied. They would also be taken to visit a favela.

The boys from the national team are locked in the hotel all the time. They only go out for training and games. As if they were in the Eurocup.

“Until now we haven’t been able to find out anything. That’s for later”, said Okishor, a fan mainly of Vinicius Junior, for him, the best in the world.

Even with the rout, the match is already in the history of Nacional. In 118 years (the association’s origins are São Paulo Railway), the club played a few times against international opponents, even more so at home. In the professional, the only match was in the 1990s, against Yomiuri, from Japan (today Tokyo Verdy).

The only person who didn’t like the friendly and complained was the stadium employee, in charge of opening the door to the small Russian crowd.

“They don’t even say good morning.”