A coach has been suspended after urging a female footballer to join the adult platform OnlyFans.
The club was also fined and will have to play two games behind closed doors.
Filipe Linz was handed a one-year suspension by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) following a series of sexual harassment and discrimination allegations from multiple players.
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The Federation’s Disciplinary Council found that the 40-year-old coach engaged in a pattern of inappropriate behaviour between the 2020/21 and 2024/25 seasons.
Evidence presented during the case included highly inappropriate messages sent to at least six different Guia FC players.
In one notable exchange, Filipe reportedly told a player to create an OnlyFans account, stating: “It’s always better than going to the roundabout, I would subscribe.”
The “roundabout” is believed to be reference to a local area in Albufeira known for street prostitution.
He also allegedly told players they would be “spanked on the buttocks” or “hit on the hand” for missing training.
Filipe allegedly told another player: “Today you were going to take a shower with me, but now you’re not.”
He also allegedly sent messages such as “I dreamed about you” and made suggestive comments about fathering a child with another player.
The FPF suspended him for one year and 15 days alongside a fine of around £866 (€1,000).
The prosecution noted that his comments regarding OnlyFans “call into question the sexual objectification and commercialisation of the victim”.
Guia FC, based in the Algarve, Portugal, has also been penalised for failing to act on the initial complaints.
The club’s management reportedly dismissed the players’ concerns as “jokes”.
As a result, Guia FC must pay a fine of £1,767 (€2,040) and play two matches behind closed doors.
Club president Alexandre Reis, vice-president Sandra Santos, and director Sandra Vicente were suspended for one month for failing to act on reports from as early as 2024, as reported by Need To Know.
Despite the ruling, Guia FC released a statement claiming the decision was full of “inconsistencies” and vowed to defend its reputation “to the last instance”.
Meanwhile, Filipe claimed his messages were “taken out of context” and indicated he may pursue defamation charges against his accusers.
While he was removed from the women’s team following the 2024/25 season, he continued to serve the club as a coach for the men’s side until his recent suspension.
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