Fans stage ‘burial’ for Brazil after World Cup exit

Yesterday, three little children, each carrying a single hibiscus flower, walked quietly through the May Pen Cemetery between rows of graves, before stopping at a makeshift resting place – their flowers not for a lost loved one – but for Brazil.

After the South American giants were knocked out of the World Cup by Norway in the round of 16 on Sunday, a mock burial was staged by football fans. The burial went viral, and even on Monday, people drove past the cemetery asking where the gravesite was. Among those who helped with the unusual burial was Clifton Thomas, better known as ‘Ballie’.

“I’m not a official worker but I help the boss with anything him want help with around the place (the cemetery),” he told THE STAR.

Ballie said he first realised something unusual was unfolding shortly after the match ended sometime after 5 p.m.

“After the match yesterday, mi see some people a come down Collie Smith Drive in a car a say them a come bury Brazil. So me do what me always do and help people fi do them burial,” he said. But what began as one symbolic funeral quickly grew into something much bigger.

“Them did just use old fridge and throw the flag dem in there and big, big procession keep right at the front. By the time me walk come in, mi see more people round one empty hole. When me look, is a different set a fans come bury Brazil,” he said.

Asked whether it’s someone’s actual burial site, Ballie laughed as he explained that the gravesite had long been abandoned.

“But a Brazil resting place now. A big funeral keep fi dem yesterday (Sunday),” he said.

The football send-off became such an attraction that, according to Ballie, Brazil was buried repeatedly throughout the day.

“About three funeral keep yah fi dem! All down a [Arnett] Garden a man a walk with a board box fi Brazil,” he said.

May Pen Cemetery manager John Cornwall, despite being occupied, also found it humorous.

“Yes, they had a nice procession,” he joked.

For Ballie, the mock funeral was simply payback for overexuberant Brazil supporters.

“When Brazil fans a come out or when them win, them do the most. All you hear is horn and truck and people from all bout, so we haffi bury dem,” he said. “Them feel like dem did ago reach semifinals or quarterfinals but fi dem time come early.”

The disappointment, he added, could even be seen on the streets.

“Brazil fans inna mourning because all the flag man, him woulda out here a sell flag, but from morning me nuh see him. Dem silent yah now man.”

Though Sunday’s funeral was all in good fun, Brazil’s exit was another disappointing World Cup campaign for football fans in Jamaica.

“Mi done watch World Cup. Mi can only get disappointed so many times because Jamaica miss qualifying by a inch. Mi did really want them fi qualify and when dem neva mek it, me did disappointed,” said a disappointed Oshane Harrison.

“Brazil build up mi hopes because me a say them historically a big team and mi know them can play. Mi still feel a way ‘bout it as a big football and Brazil supporter.”

Brazil remains the most successful country in FIFA World Cup history, having lifted the trophy a record five times—1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.