“I only owe an explanation to three women”

This Saturday (24), Abel Ferreira was irritated by a question asked by a journalist during a press conference after a 5-0 victory against Cuiabá. The press conference was held right after the Brazilian Championship match, which took place at the Brinco de Ouro stadium. The current Palmeiras coach reacted badly to the question asked by Alinne Fanelli, from Rádio BandNews FM, about the injury to full-back Mayke, who left the game in the first half. The coach dodged the question and said that he owes an explanation to only three women: his mother, his wife and Leila, the club's president. Abel spoke out this Sunday (25). The coach said that he contacted the journalist after the press conference, while still on the bus on the way to São Paulo, to apologize. According to him, the answer given had already been thought out beforehand to convey a message and that he did not intend to be hostile or embarrass her.

Abel's answer

The journalist asked, at the press conference, if the Portuguese coach could update them on Mayke's situation, due to the injury and was interrupted by Abel. “Another injury… Yes… one thing you have to understand is that I have to answer to only three women: my mother, my wife and Leila. They are the only ones who can ask me for an explanation. Why the team lost, why they got injured, why they put A, B or C in. The others can speak up, praise, complain. The coach has to know how to listen and accept. Unfortunately, things happened within the club in August. The worst of them were the injuries. Some of them you knew about and others you didn't.”he fired.

Abel also added, highlighting the athletes' physical problems during the marathon in recent weeks, a fact that hampered the team's performance. “Palmeiras has never had so many injuries since I’ve been here. Estêvão got injured, came back and got injured, Murilo too, Mayke… We asked a lot to postpone today’s game and they said that Palmeiras would benefit a lot, it’s always like that. I always ask for three days of rest, a good pitch. My president fights for that, but no one wants to fight for what’s going on.” concluded.

“Tem Mulher na Área” is not just a BandNews FM segment. It is the motto of a radio station that has respect for women in its DNA, from listeners to professionals who make this media outlet one of the main ones in Brazil.

This Saturday, our reporter Alinne Fanelli… pic.twitter.com/Iv4wLRE8EV

— Radio BandNews FM (@radiobandnewsfm) August 25, 2024

^{Abel's response to Aline (Video: reproduction/X/@radiobandnewsfm)}

After Abel's first statement, the journalist still asked if he had already spoken to Estevão about the athlete's first call-up to the Brazilian National Team. “I wanted to know what you understand as the job of a coach, whether it is winning titles, winning, valuing players, selling players, giving them the potential to reach the national team like Ríos, Luís Guilherme, Estêvão, Endrick. What is the job of a coach? Do you see anyone saying that we play with 18-year-old players against Botafogo? How many players do Flamengo, Botafogo, Fortaleza, São Paulo have, how many young players do they have in the youth team? Do you see anyone saying that? This is not just to value Palmeiras, it is to value Brazilian football and indirectly the Brazilian national team. Don't worry, 2025 is already here.”concluded the coach.

Repercussion

After Abel's response, Rádio BandNews FM spoke out on social media and defended Aline, classifying the coach's response as sexist. “There's a Woman in the Field” is not just a BandNews FM segment. It's the motto of a radio station that has respect for women in its DNA, from listeners to professionals who make this media outlet one of the most important in Brazil. This Saturday, our reporter Alinne Fanelli was disrespected while carrying out her job. The undeniable sexism demonstrated by coach Abel Ferreira is unjustifiable and indefensible. This stance certainly does not represent the thousands of Palmeiras fans who, like journalist Alinne Fanelli, work with professionalism and dedication, regardless of the sector. To our reporter, solidarity and respect!”declared in X.

What Abel Ferreira did today to the competent reporter Alinne Fanelli was absurd and unjustifiable. A direct and simple question, answered with embarrassing rudeness.

And, before anyone comes and says “but the press is mean to him”: there is no such thing as “the press”, there are…

— Diego Iwata Lima (@DiegoMarada) August 25, 2024

_{Journalist declared in defense of Aline (Photo: reproduction/X/@DiegoMarada)}

In addition to the radio station, users and colleagues came to the journalist's defense, expressing solidarity with her and condemning Abel's actions. This is not the first time that the Palmeiras coach has made controversial statements to journalists. He was recently accused of xenophobia against indigenous people when he declared that Palmeiras “was not an indigenous team”. Soon after the negative repercussions of his statement, Abel spoke out, stating that he has deep respect for all Brazilians and that he rejects any form of prejudice.

Featured photo: Abel in a Palmeiras game (reproduction/Cesar Greco-Palmeiras/CNN)