Brazilian football team appear with Norwich man's name on shirts

5
Skip to next photo
1/1
Show caption
1/1
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.

A Brazilian football team has shown solidarity with a Norwich man living with Motor Neurone Disease.

Coritiba players walked out of the tunnel for their league match against Chapecoense on Saturday evening with Jonny Butcher's name on their shirts to raise awareness for MND.

The 29-year-old, who has always been a Norwich City fan, began following the Brazilian club because his wife Ana, who he met on a dating app in 2023, is from Curitiba where the team is from.

Jonny and Ana outside the club in 2023 (Image: Submitted)

But also because the Coritiba made a strategic partnership with Norwich City in 2022.

Mr Butcher visited Ana in Brazil and the pair married in 2024 giving him all the more reason to support the team.

When he was diagnosed with MND in February Mr Butcher made a bucket list.

One of the things on the bucket list was to see a Coritiba match at the Couto Pereira stadium.

Jonny and Ana's current situation prevented this from happening.

However, after hearing about Mr Butcher's struggles the team have come out with Jonny's name emblazoned on their shirts in solidarity before a win against Chapecoense.

Jonny and his wife Ana (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Ana Clara Butcher said: "It was insane, every player went to the pitch wearing a shirt with his name on and held up a banner.

"Even the rival team were going to the game to support Jonny.

"We watched form England and were completely overwhelmed and struggled to believe it was happening.

"It was incredible.

"For a professional Brazilian team to honour Jonny feels very humbling and special.

"We are grateful and its ticked off another thing from the bucket list but its gone further than that because he just wanted to watch a game."

Mrs Butcher added that the team plan to send Jonny all the shirts the team wore including a 12th signed one just for him.

Get involved
with the news

Send your news & photos