In Buenos Aires, where La Bombonera’s steep stands and Boca Juniors’ matchday noise are woven into the city’s football identity, a remark from Brazil has stirred a familiar cross-border argument. Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, drew angry responses after joking that the stadium had a bad smell.
A studio exchange crosses the border
- Speaking on the Argentine programme Empalados, Bolsonaro greeted panel member Esteban Trebucq warmly and playfully adopted an Argentine-style accent.
- He said he was fond of Argentina and recalled travelling around the country while working as a coordinator, naming Mar del Plata among the places he had visited.
- Bolsonaro also said he had been to Boca’s stadium, adding that he went there despite what he described as an unpleasant smell. “I am a fan of yours,” he said, before making the comment about La Bombonera.
- Trebucq appeared surprised and asked why Bolsonaro had raised the issue. The Brazilian insisted that it was only a joke, although the presenter continued the discussion with a notably serious expression.
- Clips of the exchange spread rapidly online, prompting a backlash from Boca supporters. Fans filled posts carrying the video with criticism and insults, with some arguing that the jibe targeted both the ground and the Xeneize fanbase behind it.
La Bombonera remains a sensitive subject
The stadium in the La Boca district has long attracted observations from visitors and football figures, particularly over its facilities and distinctive construction. Yet Bolsonaro’s intervention went beyond a discussion of the venue’s physical condition, instead attaching a claim about its smell.
For Boca followers, La Bombonera is not merely a stadium. Its tightly packed structure, its international reputation and the atmosphere generated by the club’s supporters are central to the identity of one of South America’s most recognisable football institutions. That connection helps explain why even a throwaway joke from across the Brazilian border quickly became a point of contention.
