'Hope Brazil loses': Fans fume over press officer manhandling cat before World Cup 2022 clash against Croatia
By Sunita Iyer | First Published Dec 8, 2022, 4:30 PM ISTBrazil press officer left journalists shocked as he manhandled a cat that disturbed Vincius Jr's press conference ahead of their quarter-finals clash against Croatia at the Qatar World Cup 2022.
First it was Kurt Zouma, now it is Brazil's press officer. In what has sparked massive outrage among football fans, Brazil's press officer manhandled a cat that disturbed Vinicius Junior's news conference ahead of their Qatar World Cup 2022 quarter-final clash against Croatia.
A cat leapt onto the table as the Real Madrid forward responded to questions from the media ahead of their Friday's clash at Doha's Education City Stadium. While the 22-year-old was doing his news conference, the cat walked over to an unknown official sitting across from him at the table.
Eis que surge um gato 🐈 na entrevista coletiva de Vinicius Jr. no Catar! pic.twitter.com/xKVyj4SPy7
— ge (@geglobo)Latest Videos
The reporters present gasped in shock as the team official appeared to scratch the cat's head before grabbing it and throwing it off the table.
Despite the gasps, the official shrugged and swiftly asked for the next question from the media. Vincius Jr. laughed it off as the media chimed in and the rest of the press conference continued.
After the cat incident, Vincius Jr. was questioned about the effects Real manager Carlo Ancelotti and Brazil manager Tite had on him as a player.
"I talked with Ancelotti and he gave me a lot of advice to help me become a starter with Brazil,' he admitted. "He gave me a lot of confidence. He was always tough with me when he needed to be. He is like a father to me. He is good not only with the technical aspects of the game, but also with how he deals with his players," Vinicius Jr. added.
"I have been improving a lot and Ancelotti has helped me with that. He and Tite are very similar and they talk to each other a lot," the Real Madrid star stated.
As Brazil attempt to advance to the semi-finals of the significant tournament in Qatar, they are slated to face Croatia on Friday and feature the emerging star. After playing only minimally in the nation's three group-stage games, Vincius Jr. scored in their 4-1 victory over South Korea in the round of 16.
PETA takes note of Brazil press officer manhandling cat; fans left fuming
The animal rights organisation, PETA, took cognisance of Brazil press officer's treatment of the cat that interrupted Vinicius Junior's news conference. "What's this guy's problem? Next time he encounters a cat, he should smile & laugh like Brazil star @vinijr instead of being so rude & rough. We hope someone is looking after this sweet cat who is probably homeless—just like so many others," the organisation noted.
What’s this guy’s problem?
Next time he encounters a cat, he should smile & laugh like Brazil star instead of being so rude & rough.
We hope someone is looking after this sweet cat who is probably homeless—just like so many others. https://t.co/8195fem6Mp
Meanwhile, football fans were outraged by the Brazil press officer's action and some stated Karma would come biting the South American giants back, with some hoping they lose against Croatia.
"How on earth did a cat make its way into a Brazil press conference? And did he really need to throw it like that?!" noted on user on Twitter, while another added, "Cat thrown at a press conference with Brazil's Vini Jr‼️ Somebody come get Kurt Zouma's cousin and call @Life_Alert!"
"As someone who currently has their own cat sitting on them, I now hope Brazil lose just because of this bloke," said another irked fan, while a fourth commented, "I don't like it either but this means Brazil has been cursed I don't make the rules, the cat does."
Some users also asked if the Brazil press officer is related to West Ham defender Kurt Zouma, who was embroiled in a massive controversy after a video of him ill treating his cat went viral earlier this year. "Lucky Kurt Zouma wasn’t there," said one irked fan, while another added, "Didn't know Kurt Zouma was Brazilian."
Here's a look at some of the reactions on the micro-blogging site:
How on earth did a cat make its way into a Brazil press conference?
And did he really need to throw it like that?! pic.twitter.com/LIDM3JEBjs
Cat thrown at a press conference with Brazil’s Vini Jr‼️
Somebody come get Kurt Zouma’s cousin and call !
|
pic.twitter.com/cd4WiT73DE
As someone who currently has their own cat sitting on them, I now hope Brazil lose just because of this bloke. https://t.co/AXnvCUWdx0
— Paul Wheeler (@paulwradio)I don’t like it either but this means Brazil has been cursed
I don’t make the rules, the cat does https://t.co/wf8aAxf5pR
Seeing how a cat was treated by a Brazil NT staff member during a press conference, that's another reason why they don't deserve winning. 😒 pic.twitter.com/H7jjHhyDiZ
— Farah 🧘🏻♀️ (@itsfarah92)Why would you carry the cat that way. Brazil will not win world cup. 😤 https://t.co/LLjxJREJO1
— Fyra Hilspears (@fyrahilspears)That is not the way you carry a cat mofo. Brazil will lose the World Cup. https://t.co/X3LOnD6BXl
— Manjit Singh (@ManjitSinghG5)Cat lovers if Brazil got knocked out by Croatia:pic.twitter.com/7FF5Q3xlOx https://t.co/1I6SdNzFYu
— Ferdy Febrian (@ferfebrianf)Cat's Karma is coming to Brazil https://t.co/PyACf5pIKn
— jihyolo 🦄 (@bbuyoomma)I do hope Brazil pays for the bad treatment to this cat in karma,they deserve to go out if this how they represent their country,
I didnt see the cat bothering ,so why did the arsehole press officer move it. pic.twitter.com/uy8X3lZZRr
V v coming to teams
They may NOT win for 20+ years
Don't hurt lucky cats https://t.co/osi7YXbYLG
Will lost Brazil team… bad karma by cat 🐈⬛….
— Dmitri St (@stroilov12)Is he related to Kurt Zouma? pic.twitter.com/dkX9Jsp2Et
— Bradley (@mrbradleygt)Kurt zouma : https://t.co/4y4N1FFWoX pic.twitter.com/Emylcynv5q
— Tokuchi (@punkzlol)Kurt Zouma watching this video pic.twitter.com/JIKgRuMDHw
— J🕳EL (@AltoJoel92)Kurt Zouma watching this https://t.co/Q9hE8nddzv pic.twitter.com/2UxRDndsEM
— The Exiled Robin (@TheExiledRobin)Didn't know Kurt Zouma was Brazilian.
— Toffee Tower ⚽️💙🏴🇺🇦 (@toffee_tower)
subscribe to Asianet Newsable WhatsApp channel by clicking here. For more reliable and latest news
subscribe to Asianet Newsable Telegram channel by clicking here.