Fans watching U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo chanted “Zika, Zika” while watching her play in the football game against New Zealand at the Olympics on Wednesday night.
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Apparently whoever writes the scripts for soccer figured we haven’t had a Hope Solo controversy in a while. “She’s always good for the US even when the team is in hard times”. The U.S. continues it’s dominance in soccer through the women’s team while the men’s team struggles.
For Hope Solo, the firsts keep coming.
She was apparently unfazed as the US went on to beat New Zealand 2-0. In addition, she was subjected to chants of “Zika!“, referring to the virus that has struck Brazil, one of the many calamities the country has faced as it prepares to host the Games of the XXXI Olympiad. “And if they had fun at my expense, more power to them”. I like a loud stadium. [.] I heard that there were some negative responses here in Brazil.
Solo later downplayed the picture but the Rio Games, the first in South America, have been beset by concerns over an outbreak of the virus, which can cause birth defects in newborn children. “Get your own! #Zikaproof #Road to Rio” on her Twitter account. So, still the question remains: why is hope solo being booed? These mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters. Not only are they playing in a country where the risk of Zika is high and potentially unsafe, they also still don’t get paid the same as the US men’s team.
Zika is actually risky for women who want to get pregnant, could get pregnant, or already are pregnant.
It is important to know that the “zika children” are born with underdeveloped heads. As long as the keeper doesn’t add anymore fuel to the fire, Brazilian fans may eventually forgive her.
Solo has been quick to backtrack on previous comments regarding the dangers of competing in Brazil.
As a result, fans at the group stage opener in Belo Horizonte booed her every time she touched the ball, and at one point jeered her with chants of “Zi-ka!”
Few athletes have become more of a lighting rod for controversy than the record-setting goalkeeper for the US women’s soccer team.
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The U.S. women’s national team will play France August 6, 2016 where I’m sure she’ll receive rough treatment from the crowd again.
