By iron and fire. The atmosphere in Famalicão continues, after the scandal over sexual harassment, which has already led to the suspension of coach Migue Afonso and sports director Samuel Costa. And according to the DN, the women’s football project at the northern club is in jeopardy.
President Jorge Silva is pressured to resign – which would lead to the promotion of Vice President Paulo Figueiredo – following the revelation of new reports indicating that he was informed of the suspected misconduct by the coach when he joined Rio Ave (2020-season season). 21) ), before hiring him.
Now it is feared that the departure of the president will jeopardize the era and project of women’s football in Famalicão, as Jorge Silva has supported the boat financially, not only with his own money, according to the DN, but also with the capture of sponsors among your business friends. One of the main sponsors has already threatened to withdraw and end support the contract if, according to DN, the image of the Famalicense decal is still publicly denigrated.
The atmosphere of anxiety is such that the players of the BPI League’s 6th-ranked squad refused to train this weekend until the president clarified the situation. Something that happened on Saturday, the day he asked if “someone wanted to stop” and in the absence of affirmative answers, he delegated the leadership of women’s football to two vices and imposed a silence pact.
The club is still looking for the best way. The alleged abuses by the team director’s coach, however suspended, took place in other emblems (Rio Ave and Vit. Guimarães), although even in anticipation of the possibility that the PJ would launch a criminal investigation for negligence against the club – that is saying that someone from the structure is involved in or aware of the practice of the crime of sexual harassment and has done nothing – there are those who argue that the president should resign. In the sporting field, the club cannot be penalized under current legislation.
This is the first case of its kind known in Portuguese women’s football. It was announced last week after the newspaper Público reported the complaint of alleged victims of sexual harassment in the 2020-21 season, which only formalized the complaints to the FPF and the police through the Association of Professional Footballers on Friday. . In a statement, the club announced “the suspension of functions until the truth of the facts is established”, both Miguel Afonso and Samuel Costa. Both denied and promised to defend themselves in court.
Source: DN
