Santos under fire after Lima’s brief return sparks volley of protest
Female players claim they feel punished after coming forward anonymously to report sexual and moral harassment
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Santos found themselves at the centre of controversy this month when the Brazilian football club decided to bring back their former manager Kleiton Lima seven months after he had been accused of moral and sexual harassment by players in last year’s squad.
All eight matches in the fifth round of the national league saw protests against Lima, who left the club again after one game versus Corinthians that saw their opponents cover their ears and mouths during the Brazilian national anthem. Lima had been at Santos since 2022 and left the club in September 2023 after players complained about his conduct through 19 anonymous letters, published by the Brazilian news website GE.
