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 one.” The squad also entered the field with a banner bearing the same words.
Jonny grew up supporting Norwich City FC. He discovered Coritiba through the connection between the English and Brazilian clubs, while his bond with Curitiba deepened after he met Ana Clara, a Curitiba native who became his wife. From more than 9,000 kilometres away, Jonny followed Coritiba late at night and hoped to return to Couto Pereira with his brother-in-law, Lucas Espinoza. When his condition made that journey impossible, Coritiba brought him into the heart of match day. Lucas represented Jonny and the family inside the stadium.
The setting gave the action greater meaning. Founded in 1909, Coritiba is one of Brazil’s football institutions. Its name retains an earlier spelling of Curitiba, tying the club directly to the city it represents. Its home in Alto da Glória has welcomed generations since 1932, and the Couto Pereira has become a civic landmark as well as a football stadium. Coritiba, widely known as Coxa, won Brazil’s national championship in 1985 and continues to carry a strong identity built around city, family and supporters.
Curitiba, the capital of Paraná in southern Brazil, is internationally associated with urban planning, public transport, parks and civic innovation. It is a city shaped by different communities and by the belief that organisation should improve people’s lives. Coritiba reflected that civic character by coordinating football staff, communications, commercial partners and supporters around one human purpose.
The tribute extended beyond ceremony. Match-worn shirts were designated for Jonny’s family and an organisation supporting people affected by rare diseases. By placing his story on a sporting stage, Coritiba transformed visibility into awareness and an individual tribute into practical solidarity.
“This tribute would not have been possible without our sponsors and partners: Diadora, Ademicon, Paraná Banco, JFK Investimentos, Master Cargas, Bourbon Hotel & Suítes Curitiba, DS Indústria de Peças Automotivas and Princesa dos Campos,” Coritiba said. “We also thank the supporters in Brazil and England who embraced Jonny’s story. Together, they turned a shirt into a message of belonging and showed what football can achieve when institutions, businesses and communities stand together.”
Coritiba’s action presents a model for football organisations everywhere. Leadership is not measured only by results, audiences or revenue. It is also measured by whether a club listens, organises its resources responsibly and acts when people need support. Coritiba showed that community care can be part of professional football operations rather than an occasional gesture.
The club’s example is now a call to action. Supporters can share Jonny’s story, amplify trusted rare-disease organisations, volunteer, fundraise and encourage permanent community programmes. Sponsors, media and governing bodies can use their reach to sustain awareness and support patients, families and carers. From Curitiba to Norwich, the message is clear: football is at its best when nobody is too distant to belong and solidarity continues after the final whistle.
Official Coritiba links
- Coritiba official website
- Coritiba official release
- Coritiba Instagram — Jonny’s story
- Coritiba Instagram — tribute reel
Source and media information
Coritiba Foot Ball Club — coritiba.com.br
Info@Coritiba.com.br
Media Contact
Organization: Coritiba FC
Contact Person: Support Team
Website: https://www.coritiba.com.br/noticias/1486237
Email: Send Email
Country:Brazil
Release id:48022
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