Philadelphia Eagles are BOOED taking the field in Brazil after Darius Slay was forced to apologize over controversial remarks about country

Philadelphia Eagles players were loudly jeered as they took the field in Brazil on Friday night following the controversy surrounding cornerback Darius Slay.  Slay was forced to apologize earlier this week after claiming he did not want to travel to Brazil to play in the Eagles’ NFL International Series fixture against the Green Bay Packers amid fears over the country’s ‘high crime rate’.

He also took aim at NFL bosses for sending both the Eagles and the Packers to the South American nation, before eventually U-turning and branding it a ‘beautiful country’  Despite Slay’s apology, fans inside Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena made their anger known by booing Eagles players as they made their way out for pregame warmups.  Brazilian supporters clearly haven’t forgotten his comments, which could lead to a hostile atmosphere throughout Friday’s game.

Boos rain down as the Eagles take the field.

Players comments really struck a nerve. pic.twitter.com/Klf3ZYt6g7

— JACK SETTLEMAN (@jacksettleman) September 6, 2024

In his rant about Brazil, Slay also added that he’s so uncomfortable with the situation that he’s telling his family to not bother making the trip.  ‘I told my family do not come down there because I’m not going to be nowhere to be found,’ he admitted.  Slay says he plans to spend the entire trip in his hotel, which is a similar sentiment to that of Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown.

In an interview back in August, Brown also indicated that he’d be getting used to his hotel during the trip.  ‘We had a meeting yesterday with a whole bunch of ”Don’t Do’s,’ said Brown. ‘I’m just trying to go down there, win a football game & come back here. […]

He continued, ‘We’re not down there to see the city, this is not a vacation, this is a football game. […] Simple as just walking down the street with your phone in your hand… kinda crazy.’  However, amid the outrage over his comments about the country earlier this week, Slay took to X to issue an apology to Brazil.

I want to apologize to anyone I offended, that wasn’t my intention. I’m
Looking forward to playing in your beautiful country and i’ve heard yall are very passionate just like our amazing Eagles fan. Just a few more days, can’t wait!!!! #FlyEaglesFly

— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) September 4, 2024

‘I want to apologize to anyone I offended, that wasn’t my intention,’ he said. ‘I’m Looking forward to playing in your beautiful country and i’ve heard yall are very passionate just like our amazing Eagles fan. Just a few more days, can’t wait!!!!’  Eagles coach Nick Sirianni recently leapt to his players’ defense after insisting he understands their concerns, although he doesn’t view the situation the same way.

‘We’re going there to play and win a football game. That’s our goal. That’s our only goal as we go down there,’ Sirianni said on Sunday.  ‘And so, it’s just getting everybody in the right mindset of what you need to be when you go down there. You can control the things that you can control. Like, we’re going to Brazil to play. That’s what it is. We’re excited about that.’