Corinthians is going through difficult times in 2023. As if it was not enough that soccer is going bad, DuĂlio Monteiro Alves, the club’s president, hired a new manager. It was everything the fans wanted… but not the one that was hired: Cuca. Alexi Stival, known as Cuca, was convicted of rape in 1987 in Berna, Switzerland. He and other three players from GrĂŞmio, at the time, were arrested for 30 days for sexual acts with a 13-year-old child. Alexi has managed many clubs in Brazil since it happened, but the only place where he was taken off because of that, was Corinthians.Â
This club is known for its huge amount of fans in Brazil, and also for the investment and support of feminine soccer, which is considered the best in the country nowadays. One of the most famous campaigns made by them is “Respeita as Minas” (“Respect the Girls”), created to support women, fighting against male chauvinism, not only in soccer but in life. After the new manager announcement, the whole Corinthians’ female team posted on their social media a phrase that says exactly how this campaign was never just a phrase, showing their dissatisfaction with the new hiring.Â
The way Corinthians’ fans, mostly women, protested against Cuca, made him give up and resign one week after being hired. The mobilization was enormous. It was so huge that now Brazilian journalists found more information about the case, which was hidden by the Swiss people.
It made all women who work with soccer realize that this case should have been discussed a long time ago, while he was working normally. It represents strength to feminist progress, it means that protesting is worthwhile and opens everyone’s eyes. Even though he was accepted in all the other clubs, he wouldn’t be in Corinthians because of the fans, realizing how loud their voices were and still are.Â
A convicted man, the rapist of a 13-year-old kid, whose semen was found in the girl, could never be accepted anywhere. Fighting against Alexi and forcing him to leave, showed the power of feminism even in places where the men dominate.
The importance of women’s voices, in this case, was enormous, not only personally in front of the training center, but all over social media, because of what he did, but also because he never saw the consequences of what happened. Cuca was working normally until he stepped at Corinthians. The feminist fans showed their power and their voices, which must be heard at soccer too.Â
It’s just the beginning.Â
The article above was edited by Ana Beatriz Aith.
Liked this type of content? Check out Her Campus Casper Libero for more!