Are Brazil’s Safety Concerns Real or Exaggerated? – Philly Sports

The new NFL season is just days away, and the Philadelphia Eagles will kick off their campaign on a neutral field in Saw Paulo, Brazil. Usually, international NFL games are met with great enthusiasm, but this one is not quite as exciting.

It’s been increasingly difficult in recent weeks to find players or coaches who speak positively about the upcoming trip. Some, like Devonta Smith, have remained silent about Brazil, while others, like Darius Slay, have openly questioned the NFL’s rationale for sending players to a place with a “high crime rate.”

“I can’t wait, I can’t wait, but man — I don’t want to go to Brazil,” Slay said on his Big Play Slay podcast (via RFI).

None of this is a glamorous look for the NFL. If players and teams can’t “sell” the game, why should fans?

Eagles vs. Packers: Any safety concerns ahead of first trip?

The real question is whether these “safety concerns” are worthy of serious concern, or if they are simply being blown out of proportion while the NFL errs on the side of caution.

Brazil is an incredibly passionate country when it comes to sporting events. It has hosted the Olympic Games, the World Cup, various tennis tournaments in Rio and of course many football tournaments. Sport is a big part of the culture in the country of Brazil, producing some of the greatest footballers of all time. However, it is not without its flaws.

The Brazilian real (currency) is worth about $0.18. That’s an important factor when examining some of the comments and precautions taken by NFL teams and officials. It’s not an incredibly wealthy country, and as a result, there’s a lot of crime to worry about.

At least 580 people died during the 2014 World Cup in Rio (according to amnesty.org.uk). The murder rate in Brazil is more than four times higher than in the United States, and crime has also increased since the Olympics. But as with evaluating quarterbacks, picking numbers isn’t always the best idea.

False ideologies

Using Numbeo and comparing the city of São Paulo to Philadelphia, it is clear that the crime rates of both cities are not that different:

Let’s not forget that Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who was quick to comment on the Brazilian wildfires and the safety concerns surrounding them, lost his car after a playoff win over the Giants… in Philadelphia.

It’s not just Philadelphia. The Wembley area is a notorious crime hotspot, yet the NFL hosts international games there every year. Comparing the City of London to São Paulo, again, there’s no reason to be “more concerned” than usual:

The main difference between London/Philadelphia and São Paulo? Wealth. Brazil is not a wealthy country compared to England or America, and as a result, it is unfortunately associated with more crime and less glamour. The NFL very easily advertises the game in London. Telephone boxes, London buses, Big Ben, encouraging players to try British food, there is a lot that can be done to make it seem exciting. There is no kinship with Brazil, and without that cherry on the cake, you are left with a bland cake.

I understand why the NFL would tell players to keep their phones to themselves and stay in a hotel. These players are worth MILLIONS of dollars and they dress and act accordingly. Sure, they would be conspicuous and attract potential thieves… but if you’re ever going to a foreign country, your first instinct should ALWAYS be to keep your belongings safe, no matter where they are.

Whether it’s London, Berlin, Madrid, or literally anywhere else, tourists are easy to spot, as many of you can probably attest from your own experiences, not to mention the incredibly wealthy. But framing views that border on xenophobia in what should be a “travel handbook” is barbaric.

The fans care

Given the fierce football rivalry between São Paulo and Corinthians, green is of course associated with the fierce rival. But that doesn’t mean wearing an Eagles jersey will get you in trouble. If you were wearing a $50,000 chain, that might be different.

Just like wearing a Cowboys jersey while walking around Center City can incite opposing fans, wearing white won’t do the same. It’s just an unnecessary analogy to crime because there’s no sugarcoating. There are no “cool and trendy” ways to make the game seem like a fun experience. It’s been reduced to a chore. One that players MUST endure, and that in itself is incredibly sad.

Brazil has a lot of Eagles fans. This is the first and potentially only chance that many of these fans will get to see their team play. They bleed green like you do, cry like you do, scream and cheer like you do. Just because they come from a country with less wealth doesn’t give anyone the right to automatically assume they’re criminals when the stakes are just as high back home. Imagine being able to see your favorite team live in your city, but they refuse to play because of the same fears… you’d be angry, betrayed, and disappointed.

So while there are obvious safety concerns about this upcoming road trip, remember that those same concerns are right outside your door. They’re in London. They’re in Berlin. There’s no need to ruin what a great country has been trying to do by hosting multiple global sporting events over the past 20 years simply because of a lack of understanding and/or context.

I hope this weekend goes off without a hitch. That the Brazilian fans show how much they care about the sport and how welcome they are to those in Philadelphia and Green Bay. I hope the players walk away feeling like they made a mistake by assuming so quickly and that basic precautions should be taken wherever they go. Just because they are being implemented doesn’t mean they are in danger.

I wish you a happy and healthy first week.

Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports