2 Brazilian players in Japan Women’s Football League accuse head coach of harassment

IZUMO, Shimane — Two Brazilian soccer players belonging to this west Japan city’s team in the second division of Japan Women’s Football League revealed on Nov. 6 that they had been harassed by their head coach and others. Their lawyer filed a complaint with the league on the same day.

Laura Spenazzatto, 26, and Thays Ferrer, 25, have both been on professional contracts with Diosa Izumo FC based in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, since August 2022.

According to the lawyer who joined the Nov. 6 press conference, the two players had a contract to have an interpreter accompany them during practice and games, but the interpreter only came once a week, and they claim that this hindered them from understanding the instructions of the head coach and others.

They also claim that since joining the team, they have been subjected to verbal abuse with sexual connotations in Portuguese by the head coach, causing them emotional distress. The two were diagnosed with acute stress reaction (depression) in late July and have not attended practice since August. The two are demanding that the league, also known as the Nadeshiko League, take punitive action against those involved.

Spenazzatto said, “It was hard for me as I had been practicing but they didn’t let me play in the games. I love soccer, but I feel like I can’t get out of bed when I wake up.”

The Diosa Sports Club, a nonprofit organization that manages the team, also held a press conference on the same day. Chairperson Minoru Watanabe said that the contract did not stipulate that an interpreter was to be present at all times, and added, “We regret that we could not assign an interpreter sufficiently despite our best efforts.” Regarding the alleged sexual harassment remarks, he said, “We have not confirmed any such comments at this time,” and that the organization would proceed with an additional investigation.

(Japanese original by Hayato Matsubara, Matsue Bureau)