The historic Maracaná Stadium will change its name to ‘Pelé’ as approved by the Legislative Assembly of the Brazilian Stadium Building in Rio de Janeiro
The Legislative Assembly of the Brazilian State Rio de Janeiro has passed a controversial law giving the legendary Maracanã Stadium the name Edson Arantes do Nascimento – Rei Pel.é, regarded by the country’s fans as the greatest footballer of all time.
While lawmakers insisted it is a well-deserved tribute in life to the three-time world champion, the law caused intense controversy because journalist Mario Filho, who currently gives the name to the stadium that was the scene of the 1950s and 2014 World Cup final .
The change of the stadium’s name, which now depends on the law enacted by Rio de Janeiro’s governor Claudio Castro, has been criticized by Mario Filho’s relatives., by historians and by some sections of the press.
The author of the law, left-wing deputy André Ceciliano, claimed that the sports complex that includes the Maracaná Stadium, which includes the Maracanazinho gym, the Julio Delamare water park and the Célio de Barros athletics track, will keep and will retain the Mario Filho name stay. keep honoring the journalist.
Only the football stadium, where the football final and the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016 took place, is given the name Pelé.
“King Pelé is the best player of all time. It is a fitting tribute. Although I have no doubt that everyone will continue to call the Maracana Stadium”, the legislator affirmed when he admitted that the mythical scene will barely lose the name of the neighborhood in which it is located.
Ceciliano also rejected criticism from those who view the use of living personalities’ names to designate public spaces as converts.
“The use of living people’s names in public heritage properties has been a concern of society to care for what belongs to everyone and to avoid the privatization of public space. fair tribute to a person who is recognized worldwide for his legacy in Brazilian football and for providing important services to our country, ”he said.
One of the delegates who signed as co-authors of the bill is former soccer player Bebeto, champion with Brazil of the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
The bill was approved by the plenary session of the regional legislature as an emergency and by symbolic vote, with only the spokesmen of each party intervening.
Only the leftist Party of Socialism and Freedom (PSOL) rejected the initiative.
“Mario Filho was not only a journalist committed to democracy, but also very active in the field of sports. I cannot deny that it hurts me to imagine changing the name,” said Deputy Flávio Serafini, a PSOL legislator. .
Mario Filho was the main promoter of the idea that Brazil built the largest stadium in the world for the World Cup the country hosted in 1950, defending that it would be built in the Maracanã district., near the city center, and not in a distant neighborhood where the government wanted to build it at the time.
The journalist was also a leading sports journalist and organizer of national football tournaments.