Ex-President Lula to commentate on World Cup games from jail

Brazil’s former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will serve as commentator during the 2018 World Cup. Brazilian sports journalist José Trajano said on Twitter he would get written remarks from the ex-leader in letters to be broadcast daily on TV.

Arrested at Federal Police headquarters in Curitiba since April 7, Lula was sentenced to 12 years and one month for corruption and money laundering in the case involving the purchase of a triplex apartment in coastal Guarujá, São Paulo, as well as home improvement works in the same property.

Trajano also said on social media that Lula is to commentate on the matches on TVT, the educational broadcaster linked to the nonprofit  Fundação Sociedade Comunicação Cultura e Trabalho, supported by metal workers’ and bank workers’ unions in São Paulo state. Lula, who started his political career as a unionist, still nurtures strong ties with union organizations.

“[Lula] writes his impressions, sends them over to us, we put it up on the screen in quotes, and you get to read and hear them in an announcer’s voice. That’s the great novelty on the show: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, sports commentator,” Trajano said in a video posted on Facebook.