In the middle of celebrating the 1-3 win over Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca, two Colombian fans located in the area for people with reduced mobility got up from their wheelchairs, jumped, and celebrated on their feet. The videos went viral within hours under the ironic name “the miracle of Colombia”.
Reactions split in two. Many users pointed out that they could be fans who obtained reserved seats—usually cheaper or with better visibility—by pretending to have a condition they do not have, depriving people with real disabilities of the chance to attend. “It is an abuse that has a name and consequences”, wrote a user with thousands of likes.
But another group came out to defend the fans: there are dozens of medical conditions in which someone needs a wheelchair to get around, but can stand up at specific moments of adrenaline. FIFA, for its part, has not issued any statement. Fraud or medical ignorance on the part of those judging?