“The Players’ Union advocates zero tolerance for sexual harassment, no matter who it hurts. We will always stand by the players, protect their anonymity and forward them to the authorities through secure channels. At the same time, we respect the principle of the presumption of innocence, justice must do its job,” Joaquim Evangelista, president of the Union of Players, told DN, after the filing of the complaint against Miguel Afonso, accused of alleged sexual harassment, by Rio Ave players, in the 2020-21 season, today reported by DN.
The union leader understands that “the issue is complex”, but states that “the swift and competent action of those investigating are fundamental for the alleged victims and the alleged accused to have their rights guaranteed”. For the president of the union, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of this “first step taken by players in Portugal in the sense of denouncing practices of sexual harassment”, defending that “it is normal that many of them were afraid and preferred not to cooperate with the investigation”.
For the leader of the Union of Players, “the institutions fulfilled their role and the anonymity of the whistleblowers was protected and everyone is more vigilant about a phenomenon they know exists”. But “it is not enough to appeal or campaign, it is called for to educate and implement effective protocols to prevent harassment in clubs”.
Joaquim Evangelista also said it is necessary to separate the “sports sphere, which ended with the verification of disciplinary violations, and the criminal sphere, which ended with the absence of crime.” And that “it is not necessary that both spheres decide for sentencing”.
And as far as the DN has been able to find out, the disciplinary board of the Portuguese Football Federation believes that it acted within its responsibility by suspending the coach, as he believed he could not admit the inappropriate behavior he reported the players and therefore disciplined him. The DN also learned that the sports disciplinary decision was made on the basis of several other testimonies and not that of the underage athlete named in the warrant issued by the prosecution.
The Public Prosecution Service has closed the investigation that was opened following complaints from Rio Ave players, namely a minor. “The crime of sexual harassment of a minor on the part of the accused has not been proven in the slightest, as far as the victim is concerned, I determine, without further consideration, the filing of the present file, since there is sufficient evidence gathered that no crime has been committed”, can be read in the final order of the MP for the section Vila do Conde revealed by DN.
Miguel Afonso is still awaiting the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport on the appeal against the penalty imposed by the Disciplinary Board of the Portuguese Football Federation, which removed him from football for 3 years, but will rule at the weekend on the case . The technician has always denied the allegations.
Source: DN
