Brazilian second division side Boa Esporte are facing massive criticism for signing a convicted murderer who served only seven years of a twenty-two year sentence and was released from jail on a technicality.
Bruno Fernandes is a former Flamengo goalkeeper who, though not possessed of any caps for Brazil, was thought to be in the running to play in goal for his country at the 2014 World Cup until in 2010 a Brazilian court found him guilty of ordering the murder of his then-girlfriend and the mother of his child, Eliza Samudio. At the trial (per BBC) Fernandes admitted that he knew Samudio had been strangled and that her remains had been fed to dogs - but denied ordering the killing himself.
Because of how long the courts were taking to rule on his appeal, Fernandes was released from prison this year and quickly clubs were making inquiries about his signature. After Boa Esporte completed the transfer they received criticism for tweeting out a (since deleted from social media) image of Fernandes and smiling club officials. But four sponsors have since withdrawn their support for the club (including its biggest backer, 'Gois and Silva') as well as the club's website being hacked by anti-femicide activists.
Here's Fernandes speaking at press conference to announce his signing, saying that "Sometimes people hold things that happened in the past against a person" (well, maybe if you kill someone, yeah). He also said, of the possibility of playing for Brazil in the 2018 World Cup:
Dreaming is never too much...Bruno is alive because of his dreams. Once I dreamed about returning here, and now I have the opportunity.
What a sickening sight that would be.
"As pessoas às vezes cobram muito de uma pessoa sobre o que acontece no passado" - Bruno. pic.twitter.com/VbptLleHEr
— TNT Sports Brasil (@TNTSportsBR) March 14, 2017
