Players protest against Kleiton Lima’s return to Santos – 04/13/2024 – Sports

The start of the fifth round of the women’s Brasileirão, this Friday (12), was marked by demonstrations related to coach Kleiton Lima’s return to command of Santos. He had made the position available in September last year, following complaints of sexual and moral harassment reported by 19 players on the squad in anonymous letters, and was reintroduced to the club on Tuesday (9).

Before the game between Palmeiras and Avaí Kindermann, which ended 4-0 for the Alviverde team, athletes from both teams placed their hands over their mouths during the playing of the national anthem, in a gesture of silencing related to the allegations.

In the official photo of the match, with the same gesture, the teams came together and the players wearing the number 19 shirt turned their backs, alluding to the number of accusations presented.

The Corinthians players repeated the silence sign during the anthem before the match played against Santos himself, in Vila Belmiro, also on Friday. The game marked the return of the coach of the Santos women’s team and ended 3-1 for the black and white team from the capital.

Just two minutes into the first half, the Brabas opened the scoring with a header from Vic Albuquerque, which was celebrated with the athletes again with their hands over their mouths and some with their clenched fists raised.

At 14, striker Ketlen tied the classic after advancing into the Corinthian area and passing goalkeeper Mary Camilo. After celebrating with her teammates, the striker went to the bench and gave coach Kleiton Lima a hug.

Asked, during the game’s break, about the hug with the coach and the protest from the opponents, Ketlen spoke only about the importance of having scored her first goal in the championship.

“I always asked the coaching staff to work hard on finishing, because I know my responsibility,” she replied, who is the top scorer in the history of Sereias da Vila with 193 goals.

Vic Albuquerque, from Corinthians, also spoke about the protest at the start of the game. “We are often not heard, so that’s why we put our hands over our mouths. We want to provide security for women at work and at home, against mental and sexual abuse.”

At the press conference for Kleiton Lima’s presentation, he was accompanied by Santos’ football coordinator, Alexandre Gallo, and women’s football coordinator, Thaís Picarte, who took on the role at the beginning of this year. Both reiterated their confidence in Lima’s stance, who always denied the accusations.

According to Alexandre Gallo, an internal investigation was opened shortly after receiving the complaints, and an investigation supported by the Civil Police concluded that the content of the complaints was not proven.

“We reached a consensus that nothing happened as stated in the letters,” said Gallo. “We are quite calm about this, about your character, conduct and family. Santos is happy that you are back with us”, said the coordinator, addressing the reinstated coach.

“It’s good to be back here representing this great club in which I have a life of services provided in different categories and a very strong identity with women’s football. In relation to what happened last year, I want to make it very clear and transparent that I did not I committed no type of harassment”, stated Kleiton Lima.

Players who were in the squad at the time of the allegations spoke to the Globo Sport program, without identifying themselves, about the statements made during the coach’s presentation.

“What they say about there being an investigation is a lie,” said one of them. “Do you know who he [Alexandre Gallo] he heard? Kleiton Lima. He listened to this guy, but we didn’t”, added another player, who reported having been harassed by the coach on a bus on the way to a match.

“When he left, he rubbed himself against me, on my shoulder, I felt it. He passed three, four benches and looked with that evil look of his. Like: ‘I did it and what are you going to do?'”, he says.

Via social media, Cruzeiro’s women’s team also spoke out through a video featuring players and members of the coaching staff. “How long with prejudice, harassment, abuse and violence? The attempt to silence does not represent me”, says the text of the video.