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How would you feel if your football club signed a player convicted of the murder of his girlfriend?
Key points:
- Bruno signed by Brazilian club Boa Esporte after serving seven years of a 22-year murder sentence
- Convicted for having ex-girlfriend killed before body was dismembered and fed to dogs
- Club stands by signing which sparked outrage in Brazil
A Brazilian club has reignited its country's debate on violence against women after signing high-profile goalkeeper Bruno Fernandes de Souza, fresh after his release from prison having served less than a third of a murder sentence.
Better known as Bruno, he served just seven years of a 22-year sentence in prison for having his ex-girlfriend murdered and her body fed to dogs, before he was released on a legal technicality.
He was arrested in 2010 and three years later found guilty of homicide, kidnapping and hiding the body of Eliza Samudio, who had claimed he fathered a child with her out of wedlock and demanded child support.
Her high-profile civil action against Bruno at the time threatened a reported big-money transfer to a European club — he had previously been linked to Barcelona and AC Milan.
Bruno's cousin confessed to the killing, saying her body had been dismembered with parts of it fed to dogs and others buried beneath concrete. Bruno's ex-wife was also on trial, but was acquitted of kidnapping the child.
Brazil's Supreme Court released Bruno on a technicality, granting the 32-year-old the right to appeal his sentence in liberty.
Fresh out of prison, he has been signed by second-tier Brazilian side Boa Esporte Clube on a two-year deal.
Why would the club be in such a rush to sign Bruno?
Years ago, Bruno was hot football property. He was the number-one keeper for Flamengo — one of Brazil's most famous clubs — and was widely tipped to eventually make Brazil's squad for the 2014 World Cup on home soil.
Boa look determined to bank on Bruno's high profile, regardless of how poisoned that chalice is.
The clubs' fans have denounced the move which has sparked widespread anger in the country, prompting a petition against Bruno's signing with the message: "[we] hereby communicate to all presidents and directors of football clubs our total disgust if a symbol of death wears a sports shirt".
But Boa has so far refused to back down.
In a lengthy Facebook post, the club insisted it had committed no crime in signing the keeper, saying it "was not responsible for the release and freedom of the athlete Bruno".
The club president said Bruno had already been punished and the club was helping him readjust into civil society by offering him the "dignity of work".
Boa's bravado has backfired financially, with the club's main sponsor Gois and Silva ending its links, while some other sponsors have reportedly ended their deals as well.
"Given the decision to go ahead with the recruitment of Bruno, the Gois and Silva group officially announces that it is no longer a sponsor," the company said in a statement.
Bruno quiet on setting example to children
The goalkeeper could be back in action inside two months, once he regains match fitness following his spell behind bars.
But when asked by a journalist at his unveiling if he set a good example to children watching, Bruno gave the question short shrift before swiftly moving on.
Bruno's cagey response
During the press conference announcing his signing, Bruno refused to answer a question from a journalist asking if he set a good example to children.Asked about the recent loss of club sponsors following his arrival, he replied: "I will leave that question for the president to answer. I have nothing to do with that topic. I am just here to play football.
"People run from me because of what happened in the past.
"When God opens doors, no man should close them. This is best left in the hands of those who are best capable of working on it."
The issue comes at the height of national debate on women's rights and violence against women and girls in Brazil.
According to Amnesty International, studies have shown a 24 per cent increase in lethal violence against women over the last decade in Brazil, a country named as one of the most dangerous in Latin America in which to be a girl.
Amnesty International also noted in its report that the previous year had been marked by a number of protests on violence against women, in a year that saw the Brazilian Government dissolve its Ministry of Women's Affairs, Racial Equality and Human Rights.
Fans are planning on protesting outside the club's stadium, while the Popular Feminist Front of Varginha has released a statement on Facebook condemning Bruno's signing.
The statement says resocialisation of a former prisoner is not the issue, but rather that a woman's life is "always left out" in comparison to other issues.
It adds that Bruno is "no longer just a goalkeeper", and that there is too much of a readiness to alleviate gender violence with his image and fame.
Away from protests and national debate, Bruno finds himself repatriated inside football's bubble.
He told the media he still hoped to one day play for the Brazil national team.
"Dreaming is never too much. Bruno is alive because of his dreams. Once I dreamed about returning here, and now I have the opportunity," he said.
"I will do my best for Boa, I am going to give it my all. I am going to let it all just happen naturally."
First posted