Fifteen years on, many Scotland fans still remember the controversy that followed Brazil’s 2-0 friendly win over the Tartan Army at the Emirates Stadium in 2011.
The incident.
The match was overshadowed when a banana was thrown towards Neymar from the crowd. The then-19-year-old Brazilian star later spoke publicly about the incident and suggested Scotland supporters had targeted him throughout the game.
The backlash.
Investigations later found the banana had been thrown by a German tourist sitting in an area largely occupied by Brazil supporters, not Scotland fans. The match commander and Scottish football authorities both rejected suggestions that Scotland supporters were responsible.
Many Scotland fans felt the accusations unfairly tarnished the reputation of the Tartan Army, leading to anger that has never fully disappeared.
No apology.
Despite the findings, Neymar insisted he had not directly accused Scotland fans and therefore had no reason to apologise.
He said at the time:
“At no time did I accuse any person or any group of supporters, of whatever nationality.”
That stance only fuelled frustration among Scotland supporters, many of whom believed he should have publicly clarified the situation.
The rivalry returns.
Now the story has resurfaced ahead of Scotland’s crucial World Cup clash with Brazil.
Neymar has returned to fitness and is expected to feature as Scotland attempt to keep their knockout-stage hopes alive. The fixture brings together two sides with significant history, with Brazil having never lost to Scotland at a World Cup.
For many Scotland fans, Wednesday’s meeting is about more than football. The memories of 2011 remain fresh, and Neymar’s comments are still discussed whenever the two nations meet.
The bottom line.
A controversial incident. Years of resentment. And now another Scotland vs Brazil showdown on the biggest stage.
The Tartan Army have never forgotten what happened in 2011.
