Japanese World Cup fan goes viral with epic meltdown after Brazil loss
A Japan soccer fan's agony has gone viral after his home nation lost a heartbreaker against Brazil in the World Cup. But is all as it seems?
The Samurai Blue took an early lead against the Seleção and remained up 1-0 into halftime.
Despite an early second half goal from Casemiro, there was belief that extra time could be on the cards.
But a late winner from Gabriel Martinelli sealed the fate of Japan while securing a Round of 16 berth for the Brazilians.
Images captured upset Japanese fans around the stadium - with one in particular standing out.
In what looked like something out of an anime, a Japan fan surrounded by Brazilians closed his eyes and screamed straight up into the air in agony.
A Japan fan has gone viral for his epic meltdown after losing to Brazil in the Round of 32
The Samurai Blue scored first and took a 1-0 lead into half time against the Seleção
But a stoppage time winner by Gabriel Martinelli sealed the fate of the Japanese team
The fan, who was wearing a blue home shirt and even had his hair dyed blue, yelled as he angrily took off what appeared to be either a jacket or kimono.
Other Brazil fans tried to wrap him in their national flag in some show of condolence, but the fan was having none of it.
He continued yelling into the air as cameras captured a mob of friendly Brazilians eventually surrounded him with hugs in a show of comradery.
Social media took the clip and ran with it, pointing out the passion of the fan.
'imagine going through the worst pain in your life and the people around you are celebrating the thing that caused you the pain,' read one comment on X.
Another comment said, 'Painfull to watch !! JAPAN WAS ONE OF THE BEST TEAM THIS WORLD CUP !! MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.'
'that's honestly kinda funny seeing fans from different countries just vibe together,' wrote another user.
One user posted, 'I was dying laughing when I saw this live lmao instantly raised my mood again after the loss.'
However, this was likely staged. The broadcast showed the fan passing his phone to a person in front of him with his device set up to record his reaction.
While this was surely one of the more entertaining moments of the Round of 32 so far, it may not be authentic at all.
Just moments before the broadcast captured the fan's reaction, they showed that same fan handing his phone to a Brazil fan in front of him.
The Japan fan had a smile on his face and held his phone horizontally, as if to have the person in front of him record his reaction.
While the reaction may have been faked, the result wasn't as Brazil have once again qualified for the Round of 16.
They will take on the winner of the match between the Ivory Coast and Norway in the next phase on July 5 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
