The captain of the women’s football team, Dolores Silva, considers the recent cases of sexual harassment in Portugal “deep sadness”, calling on the victims to have the courage to press charges, eliminating these episodes from society.
“It is a deep sadness. Unfortunately, it affects not only football but different sectors of our society. We stand in solidarity with all the victims and we appeal to those who have not yet spoken to also have the courage that these girls had to cancel,” he said, apart from the statements about the confrontation with Belgium.
The Portuguese Football Federation created a platform for victims of sexual harassment in football to report safely and anonymously, with female players posing for photos on Monday with a banner saying “Denuncia! training session, at Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras.
“It is important that they are not afraid to speak out, because this is a sad aspect, which must be eliminated from our society quickly,” said Dolores Silva, who emphasized that it belongs to everyone to try “to educate people.” bring that they are not afraid and afraid to say something, because it is serious business and it must be reported so that it doesn’t happen again”.
Several football players who played in Rio Ave in 2020/21 denounced, in an article published last week by the newspaper Público, sexual harassment by the then coach of the Vila do Conde club Miguel Afonso, who was currently the coach of Famalicão , also having the director Samuel Costa was the subject of disciplinary proceedings.
“We are going to be alert to everything campaigning so that we can talk about it and show our solidarity. One day it could be these colleagues and the next it could be us. I think it is important that there are campaigns, it can give courage to people who still haven’t spoken out of fear, because this is always a sensitive topic,” he said.
Asked to comment on whether professionalism in football could accelerate the elimination of sexual harassment cases, the Sporting de Braga player said “it’s not just about amateurism” because it’s something “intrinsic” in the game. society “for many decades”.
“Do not be afraid”
Portuguese internationals Ana Borges and Sílvia Rebelo also spoke on the matter, with the former not entirely surprised by this kind of news: “Whether it surprises me or not, it doesn’t surprise me that much anymore. In football and sports. sad moment and a very unpleasant situation for those who live in it. We can only wish them luck and give them our support”.
“Strong support and strength to all of them. Don’t shut up, judge and don’t be afraid. I understand that sometimes there is fear, but there are platforms where you can do it anonymously and where you don’t care about exposing yourself. Delicate and, from my side, in everything I can help, I support them all,” he also appealed.
Sílvia Rebelo also encouraged the victims: “We stand in solidarity. We encourage all the people who suffer. This is not just in football, it is in society. Unfortunately it happened in football now, but give them strength and courage not to to be silent”.
High focus for the play-off
Talking about the team’s next match, Dolores Silva emphasized that the team has “very high” levels of focus to meet Belgium, in the first round of the playoff European qualification for the 2023 World Cup.
“We have a high level of focus. We know the importance of the game and what it represents for us. It is a very important moment for our team and we are very focused to achieve the goal,” said the 31-year-old athlete .
Dolores Silva recalled that Belgium was the… Bedrooms in the last European Championship, in which it presented “good results”, to realize that “it is also a strong team” and that it wants to achieve the same goal of finishing in the second round.
“Our goal will be the same as always, which is to face this match with the utmost respect for the opponent, but above all with respect for who we are and what we have built, with our feet on the ground and giving everything. Again, for Portugal in the best possible way,” said the national team captain.
The formation of corners must beat Belgium to discuss entry to the World Cup with Iceland in two matches on Portuguese soil in the second round.
“We are counting on the support of our supporters in the stands. The last time, in Vizela, it went very well and we had a lot of people present. We can play a great game and get a nice win for our ambitions,” he emphasizes.
the team of corners welcomes Belgium on Thursday, from 18:00, in Estádio do Vizela, in the first round of the playoff continental qualification for the 2023 World Cup.
In case of victory, the Portuguese team will face Iceland in the second round in the second round, on October 11, also from 18:00, in Paços de Ferreira, in a match in which, if it also wins, it qualifies for the World Cup if it is one of the two best (group stage points, with first, third, fourth and fifth and second round of) playoff).
If it manages to qualify but as the worst of those who qualified, Portugal will go to a playoff intercontinental, in New Zealand, which will determine the last three places, with Taipei, Thailand, Cameroon, Senegal, Papua New Guinea, Haiti, Panama, Chile and Paraguay.
The World Cup finals will be held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, 2023.
Source: DN
