From Norwich to Curitiba: One Shirt, Two Cities and a Football Family Without Borders
CURITIBA, Brazil / NORWICH, England 10th Aug 2026 — Coritiba may be less familiar to British audiences than Norwich City, but the Brazilian club has created a recognisable story: a supporter, a family and two fan bases united across continents. Its tribute to Jonny Butcher shows how clubs can turn relationships into support.
Coritiba Foot Ball Club turned a Brazilian top-flight match into a global statement about what football can mean beyond the score. At Estádio Couto Pereira, the club honoured Jonny Butcher, a 29-year-old supporter from Norwich, England, who is living with a motor neurone disease, commonly known as MND. The players wore a special shirt carrying his name, a sunflower representing hope and rare-disease awareness, and the message, “Your strength inspires us. We stand as on...
