International soccer supporters, be warned — clothe the Rocky statue at your own risk.
The fans of the Ecuadorian national team learned Sunday what many NFL fans already know about draping their colors over the statue of Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.
Ecuadorian supporters fitted Rocky with a yellow La Tri kit, then saw their team concede a 90th-minute winner in its FIFA World Cup group-stage opener against Ivory Coast on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field (aka Philadelphia Stadium).
The effects of the “Rocky curse” are well-documented when it comes to football, but it was relatively untested on the beautiful game. Ecuador lost, 1-0, to the Ivorian side, which entered the tournament ranked 10 spots behind La Tri in the FIFA World Ranking.
With Brazil coming to Philly for a Group C match against Haiti on Friday (8:30 p.m., Fox29), Movimento Verde Amarelo, Brazil’s main supporters’ group, went to great lengths to ensure the yellow and green of the Canarinho stayed off the Rocky statue.
The Rocky statue was roped off with a four-post retractable nylon stanchion, with four members of MVA, sunglasses on and earpiece in, standing at attention at each corner as Brazilian fans gathered for a rally in front of the Art Museum.
The bodyguards discouraged fans from draping any Brazilian garb on the statue, holding signs that read:
“Operation Rocky Protectors — Attention: it is forbidden to put Brazilian colors on the statue.”
Matheus Henrique, 30, was one of the MVA members protecting the statue. Henrique, a native of Belém, Brazil, moved to Los Angeles a decade ago for college.
Henrique is friends with the person who helped organize Brazil’s takeover of the steps and responded when a call went out for volunteers to guard the statue.
“It’s a superstition, we heard,” Henrique said. “We’re enjoying the event as well.”
There was plenty of enjoyment to go around for Brazilian supporters as they scaled the steps in front of the Rocky statue on Thursday evening. Fans danced, sang, set off smoke flares and drummed for hours, making The Oval feel more like Rio de Janeiro than Fairmount.
And, thanks to the statue guards and forewarnings from MVA and Visit PA, Rocky remained shirtless throughout the evening.
The MVA Instagram account posted a warning to its members to abstain from clothing the Rocky statue before Brazilian fans gathered at the steps on Thursday.
“Attention Brazil Fans,” a translated version of the group’s post reads. “It is totally forbidden to put a Brazilian shirt on the Rocky Statue in Philly!!!!!”
Meanwhile, Visit PA warned international fans about the Rocky curse.
“Countless football teams (as in American Football, not Fútbol — same curse, different sport) have all dressed the Rocky Statue in their colors and gone on to lose,” its Instagram post read. “Ecuador dressed Rocky last weekend. Coincidence? Sadly, history says no.”
Henrique was confident about Brazil’s match with Haiti, but he said the team needs all the luck it can get after starting the World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Morocco. Henrique said he had to chide a few people getting too close to the statue.
“Some people don’t know,” Henrique said. “I didn’t know about the superstition until today. Let’s not play with luck. We need luck.”
Henrique plans to watch Friday night’s match from the FIFA Fan Festival in Lemon Hill, but he feels as if he’s already done his part to help the Brazilians avoid an upset.
Gonna Fly Now
After successfully avoiding Rocky’s wrath, Brazil will enter Friday night’s match as favorites over Haiti, which dropped to No. 85 in the FIFA World Ranking after losing its opener to Scotland.
Brazil, ranked No. 5 in the FIFA World Ranking, will be without national legend Neymar for the match. The 34-year-old winger, nursing a calf injury, was not among the group of players that arrived at the Sofitel in Center City on Thursday afternoon.
Brazilian supporters welcomed players to the team’s hotel, creating a festive but crowded scene at 17th and Sansom around 4 p.m.
Brazil’s team bus arrived to the hotel at 5:10 p.m., and a few Brazilian players, including Gabriel and Raphinha, greeted fans as they walked from the bus to the hotel.
The Seleção will look to secure all three points against the Haitians at Philadelphia Stadium on Friday night. The team and its supporters can rest easy knowing it will not be the next victim of the Rocky curse.
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