UNFORGIVEN

Brazil v Uruguay: World Cup Decider:
Rio de Janeiro: Maracana Stadium: 16th July 1950:

They say to forgive is divine,
but alas for Moacyr Barbosa his life was spent hiding in shadows and avoiding accusing eyes. Pleading forgiveness for an error committed over fifty years ago that left him an outcast in his own country.

Barbosas' alleged crime for this existence of guilt and recrimination was no act of murder or treachery, simply a mistake made out on a football pitch. But one so grievous that the heavens from the skies fell with a fury onto Moacyr Barbosa's sacrificial head.

Due to the arrangements of the 1950 World cup tournament there was no defining final, instead four teams played off to decide who became champions. But luckily results unfolded in a manner that ensured a dramatic climax with Brazil requiring a draw and Uruguay a win.

At the newly built, breathtaking Maracana stadium the host nation met their deadly rivals in front of a world record 200,000 crowd. They came to witness not a football match but a coronation. Defeat was unthinkable and Brazilian confidence was such the players were even handed medals the previous night off dignitaries with 'winners' inscribed upon them.

But thirteen minutes from time disaster struck for the hosts when a bumbling Barbosa was beaten by Uruguayan winger Ghiggia, whose near post shot deceived him and sent the coveted trophy to Montevideo and the Brazilian goalkeeper descending into hell.

So began a lifetime of mockery and abuse.

Many years later in the United States Moacayr Barbosa tried paying a visit to the Brazilian training camp to wish them luck for the 1994 World Cup competition. When his identity was made known to officials a tearful Barbosa found himself barred from entering and was led away by security guards. They possessed long memories along the Copacabana.

On 8th April 2000 Moacyr Barbosa departed this mortal coil. He died unforgiven.

John Ludden
Cfieldsoffire@aol.com