Famalicao Coach and Athletic Director Suspended Over Alleged Sexual Harassment Case

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) said this Thursday in a statement on its official website that it had condemned coach Miguel Afonso and sports director Samuel Costa of the Famalicán women’s team.

Coach Miguel Afonso was suspended for 35 months and director Samuel Costa for 18 months following allegations of sexual harassment by players.

The decision was announced this Thursday by the FPF Disciplinary Board (CD) condemning the technician for “practicing five very serious disciplinary offenses” resulting from “discriminatory behavior based on gender and/or sexual orientation”, punishing -o with 35 months (nearly three years) of disqualification and a fine of 5100 euros, and Samuel Costa will serve one and a half years of suspension for three very serious violations with a fine of 3060 euros.

The case dates back to September, when players who played for the Rio Ave women’s team in the 2020/21 season denounced sexual harassment by then-coach of the club’s women’s team, Miguel Afonso, and several players filed complaints by joining them a few days later. Samuel Costa, after new complaints, with the FPF CD to initiate proceedings against both.

On September 30, several players who were coached by Miguel Afonso filed sexual harassment complaints through the Professional Footballers’ Union (SJPF) with the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and the Judicial Police (PJ), a Lusa source confirmed. union.

The SJPF was contacted and, after collecting evidence, formalized participation, which, according to the same source, includes not only players from the Rio Ave team, but also from other clubs under the aforementioned coach.

The CD FPF has also taken disciplinary action against FC Famalicão women’s sports director Samuel Costa for the complaint, a source at the organization told Lusa.

Miguel Afonso and Samuel Costa were then removed from their duties in the Famalican.