Coritiba pays ALS tribute to English fan Johnny Butters
Coritiba Football Club plans to pay tribute to English fan Johnny Butters, who is suffering from ALS. This honor will be given during the match against Chapecoense.
Coritiba pays ALS tribute to English fan Johnny Butters
Why it matters
Coritiba Football Club's tribute to Johnny Butters is a symbol of solidarity and sympathy in the football community. It not only highlights Butters' personal story, but also helps raise awareness of a serious disease like ALS. Such recognition brings out the human side of football, making the game more than just competition.
Background
Johnny Butters, who is from the Norwich area, has developed an allegiance to Coritiba Football Club due to his deep ties with Brazil. His wife, Ana Clara, is Brazilian, and his life has become a cultural bridge between England and Brazil through football. Johnny's battle with ALS has made his story even more inspiring.
Key Points
- Coritiba pays ALS tribute to English fan Johnny Butters.
- Coritiba Football Club plans to pay tribute to English fan Johnny Butters, who is suffering from ALS. This honor will be given during the match against Chapecoense.
- Coritiba pays ALS tribute to English fan Johnny Butters.
Butters, who is 29 and lives in the Norwich area, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in February 2026. His story has garnered increasing attention as his family shared that the disease is impacting their mobility.Coritiba has now turned this story into a public display of solidarity. The Brazilian club has announced a number of activities in honor of Jonny ahead of their Campeonato Brasileiro match against Chapecoense on 8 August 2026 at the Estadio Couto Pereira. Coritiba said their players would wear a special shirt with a message of support for the English fans.
##Who is Johnny Butters?
Johnny Butters is an English football supporter from the Norwich area whose life has become deeply intertwined with Brazil. His wife, Ana Clara Butters, is Brazilian and football has become a cultural link connecting their lives in England and Brazil. Jonny's love of Coritiba has evolved with his connection to Norwich City.His story has become highly sensitive because he has been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive neurological condition that affects the nerve cells involved in voluntary muscle movement. Johnny and Ana Clara report how everyday activities are becoming more difficult as their mobility decreases. Nevertheless, football remains an important part of Johnny's story.
There is a particular football dream that is gaining attention in Queercity: watching Coritiba play at the Couto Pereira.
Coritiba's tribute during the Chapecoense match
Coritiba's response went beyond just a social media message. The club has announced that Jonny will be honored during the match against Chapecoense, scheduled for August 8 at the Couto Pereira.The plan involves players wearing a special shirt with a message dedicated to Johnny. This initiative aims to bring their story straight to the field and in front of thousands of supporters inside the stadium. This gesture changes the story of an individual supporter on a larger scale: it reminds that the football community extends beyond geographical boundaries.
For Johnny, that range is more than 5,000 miles wide. Nevertheless, Coritiba's tribute means that a supporter watching from England can be part of a match day match at the Curbity.
Connection of Norwich City and Coritiba
Jonny's story is so powerful because Norwich City and Coritiba have an established football relationship.Norwich announced a strategic partnership with Coritiba on 3 June 2022, designed to encourage the exchange of knowledge and best practices between the two clubs. This partnership gives supporters on both sides of the Atlantic another reason to learn about each other's clubs.
For Coritiba's supporters, Norwich City became a familiar Brazilian name. For supporters of Curbitity, Norwich City gained a stronger connection with the Coxa community. Johnny's personal story now gives an unusually human dimension to this institutional relationship.
Coritiba's home Estadio Major AntΓ³nio Couto Pereira is in Curitiba, Brazil and is the emotional heart of the club for generations of supporters. For most fans, going to matches there is a normal part of supporting Coritiba.For Johnny, it turns out to be something much more difficult. His dream of experiencing a Coritiba match at the Couto Pereyra has therefore become a key element of his story.
Even though circumstances make that trip difficult, Coritiba's tribute really symbolically brings Johnny to the stadium. Players wearing dedicated messages with his name ensure that his name becomes a part of the occasion.
##Football community unites around Johnny Butters
Support for Johnny hasn't just come from Brazil. His story has also attracted attention in England.
Reports in early 2026 have highlighted his long-standing association with Norwich City and the support he has received from the football community. A report said that Jonny has been attending Norwich matches with his father since his childhood.
This makes the tribute to Coritiba particularly important.Jonny's story now bridges two football cultures: Norwich in eastern England and Curitiba in southern Brazil.
Different countries. Various leagues. Different languages.
But the same idea: to belong to a football club.
Coritiba's tribute is bigger than football
Coritiba vs Chapecoense is an important Campeonato Brazilian tie, but at Couto Pereira this occasion has meaning beyond the league table.
For Johnny Butters and his family, this tribute represents identification with a club that is thousands of miles away.
For Coritiba supporters, it is an opportunity to stand behind one of their own, no matter where he was born.
And for football, Jonny's story illustrates one of the game's most powerful characteristics: **Supporting a club can form bonds that cannot easily be erased by geography.**Jonny may be an English supporter who lives in Norwich, but his love of Coritiba makes him part of the Coxa community.
On August 8, that community is making sure he knows it.
What will happen next
In the match against Chapecoense on 8 August 2026, Coritiba players will wear special shirts with a message of support for Johnny Butters. Other activities will also be held during the event that will further highlight Johnny's story. This match will be an important moment not only for the game, but also for Jonny and his family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Coritiba pay tribute to Johnny Butters?
Coritiba paid tribute to Johnny Butters as he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and his story touched football fans.
Who is Johnny Butters?
Johnny Butters is an English football supporter who hails from the Norwich area and has deep connections with the Brazilian club Coritiba.
What activities has Coritiba organized in tribute?
Coritiba has announced special activities in honor of Jonny in the match against Chapecoense on 8 August 2026, in which players will wear a special shirt.
When was Johnny Butters diagnosed with ALS?
Johnny Butters was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in February 2026.
When did Coritiba hold a tribute to Johnny Butters?
Coritiba held a tribute to Johnny Butters in the match against Chapecoense on 8 August 2026.