With the Rio Summer Olympics now underway, goalkeeper Hope Solo found herself on the receiving end of boos, whistles, and even a “ZIKA!” taunt during the United States Women’s National Team’s recent game in Bela Horizontal, Brazil.
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Solo, playing her 199th worldwide match in the game in Belo Horizonte, was greeted by thousands of fans shouting “Zika!”, in reference to a Twitter photo she published last month, every time she cleared the ball or took a goal kick.
Solo played another solid game behind a defense that was mostly impenetrable, but the animus of the Brazilian fans at Estadio Mineirao had nothing to do with her play. Spectators loudly shouted “Zi-ka!” as she cut loose the last several of her goal kicks.
Hope Solo is not very popular in Brazil.
It was an ideal win, but not quite an ideal night.
“Not sharing this! Get your own!” the 35-year-old had written on Twitter, where she was photographed wearing a mosquito net and holding a jumbo-sized bottle of insect repellent.
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“I think that’s something hopefully they will put behind them and realize that Hope has apologized to the Brazilian people”, USA coach Jill Ellis said of the fans. “Sometimes, mistakes are made. I hope the Brazilian people appreciate what we’re trying to do with the ball and move past that”. They’re having fun. At least it’s loud in the stadium. They instead considered it a mocking gesture, so fans relentlessly booed Solo throughout USWNT’s victory against New Zealand.
