Global soccer is an unforgiving business, which is why Hope Solo won’t stop getting booed in Brazil any time soon, and why the taunts of “Zika” will likely be hurled in her direction as long as the United States remains in the Olympic tournament.
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Two of the world’s best soccer players have been hearing from fans at the Rio Olympics.
For the USA women’s soccer team, these Olympics are all sorts of unfair.
Kicking off her third tour in the Olympic Games, the outspoken Solo was constantly bombarded by Brazillian boos every time she came within the vicinity of the ball. 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.
“I’m glad the fans had fun”, Solo said following the game. Many Mexican fans, and other fans of Central and South American teams, infamously yell a gay slur, despite repeated calls for them to stop. “So what goes on around me in the stadium, honestly it doesn’t matter”, she said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Can you hear me now?
Ms Solo, 35, posted an image of herself kitted out in mosquito protection gear before she travelled to Rio for the games. “Get your own! (hashtag) zikaproof”.
So they booed Solo mercilessly on Wednesday, and repeatedly chanted “Zika!“. They can also bite at night. The images were of injuries she developed while on the field, like the instance where she cut her thumb on a sprinkler head or when her cleats began melting as a result of unsafe temperatures of the field. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects. Men can also carry Zika and pass it to their partner through sex. “I hope the Brazilian people appreciate what we are trying to do with the ball and move past that”. The locals find the worldwide media outcry over the Zika virus sensationalistic, and blame Solo for helping to fuel the hype.
Solo, the stellar goalkeeper for the USA team that has won multiple World Cups and Olympic gold medals, expressed concern over the Zika virus on social media, and that did not go unnoticed in Brazil.
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Solo came up big in her 200th worldwide appearance as the United States fought off France 1-0 on Saturday in an Olympic group match at Mineirao Stadium.
