Bruno Fernandes actually fed his murdered girlfriend's remains to dogs to conceal evidence. Photo: Cristiane Mattos/AFP.
A Brazilian soccer club is signing a goalkeeper who was convicted in the killing of an ex-girlfriend — prompting outrage from many.
Boa Esporte presented Bruno Fernandes de Souza on Tuesday.
In a news conference transmitted by ESPN Brazil, Souza said he was thankful for the opportunity.
In his words, “people run from me because of what happened in the past.”
Indeed, several sponsors have said they’ll drop the team in protest.
Souza is free while appealing a 22-year prison sentence for ordering a friend to murder Eliza Samudio and conceal her body.
He was found to have feed her body to dogs after the killing.
Souza was recently released while he appeals.
Supreme Court justice ordered his release on the grounds that his appeal to a higher court was languishing.
“Boa is opening the doors (for me). I’m very happy, motivated,” said Souza
At least five sponsors have said they will drop the team in protest.
The city of Varginha, about 400 kilometres northwest of Rio de Janeiro, also said it was looking into whether it was legally possible to end its association with the team, which uses its facilities.
In a Facebook post, club president Rone Moraes da Costa defended the decision, saying all laws had been followed and that the second-division club was doing its part to help a man recover.
“Who has never heard (it said) that work dignifies a man?” he wrote.
Many Brazilians, from Esporte fans to women’s groups, strongly disagreed, and thousands of angry comments were posted on the team’s Facebook page.
Souza, 32, previously starred for Rio de Janeiro-based Flamengo.
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