Sports

Smiley-faced Brazilian football mascot is accused of sexual harassment by a female reporter, who claims the man inside ‘pushed her head and made a kissing gesture’ in a goal celebration

  • Gisele Kumpel claims the mascot constantly made gestures during the game
  • Internacional confirmed they have provided police with images of the incident  
  • Chelsea were gutless to play for penalties. Liverpool have a cause, Mauricio Pochettino’s side are soulless – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast 

A pitchside reporter has filed a complaint against a mascot for sexual harassment, accusing the club icon of pushing her head and motioning to kiss her. 

The incident was alleged to have taken place during Internacional’s 3-2 against Gremio on Sunday, when Gisele Kumpel claims the home team’s mascot’s constantly made gestures towards her. 

She had taken up a place behind the goal during the Brazilian top-flight clash and, speaking to GloboEsporte, accused Saci – the club’s mascot – of pushing her head and making a kissing gesture towards her. 

‘I was the only woman on that side of the field.’ Kumpel said. ‘There were other journalists, but he only did that to me.

‘He came to my side and hugged me.’ She added on the moment Alan Patrick scored a late winner for the  Porto Alegre-based outfit. 

Pitchside reporter Gisele Kumpel has filed a complaint following an incident that took place on Sunday

Pitchside reporter Gisele Kumpel has filed a complaint following an incident that took place on Sunday

The individual acting as Internacional mascot Saci during the 3-2 win over Gremio is accused of sexually harassing Kumpel

The individual acting as Internacional mascot Saci during the 3-2 win over Gremio is accused of sexually harassing Kumpel

‘He stayed hugging me. Even with the mask on, he pushed my head and made a gesture of kissing me. I could hear the sound of the kiss and I felt his sweat.’

Internacional confirmed that they have provided police with stadium security images to enable them to investigate the complaint. 

The club have also announced that the employee acting as the mascot on Sunday will be removed while the investigation is carried out. 

‘Regarding the registration of an incident related to the figure of the Saci mascot, Sport Club Internacional informs that it sent the images of its internal monitoring circuit to the Police Station in charge of investigating the episode.’ The club statement began. 

‘We trust that all the facts will be duly clarified with the authority police. Therefore, and pending the prompt resolution of the case, the employee responsible for the mascot and the Club itself will remain at the disposal of the authorities.

Brazilian outlet GloboEsport showed footage of Kumpel behind the goal in the closing stages of the match

Brazilian outlet GloboEsport showed footage of Kumpel behind the goal in the closing stages of the match

Saci can also be seen behind the advertising boarding as opposing players came together on Sunday

Saci can also be seen behind the advertising boarding as opposing players came together on Sunday

‘Until the process is completed, the employee will be separated from the representation of Saci.’

Kumpel took to social media on Monday to lament the issues facing women in football, saying: ‘Another day of women wanting to do their job in football and suffering for it with idiots who are criminals.’

She also pledged to persist with her case ‘so that no other woman goes through this’ in a post that included images that appeared to show her in a police station. 

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