Nike, the club’s kit manufacturer, discovered that the total number of Corinthians fans (30 million worldwide) is larger than the population of many countries. In fact, if the club was a country, with its fans as inhabitants, it would be the 29th biggest country on the planet.
As a result, in celebration of the team’s first 100 years, Nike has formed the People’s Republic of Corinthians, and has gone all out to give fans the full experience. The sportswear giant has drawn up a club legislation, which has been printed in most Brazilian newspapers, and has also already distributed one million identity cards.
Birth certificates and letters of amnesty for members of the People’s Republic of Corinthians are also available, as well as passports which are stamped at every match attended. Nike have also helped to create one of the largest flags in the world to be displayed at every game.
As if all that wasn’t enough, the Republic also has its own currency for club merchandise, a truck driving across the country acting as an embassy, and has elected Lula, a Corinthians fans and the former President of Brazil, as the first President of the People’s Republic of Corinthians.
The campaign has generated a great level of media interest, and some are saying the idea could be repeated with fans of the bigger clubs in Europe, such as Barcelona, AC Milan and Manchester United.
