Bizarre: Convicted murderer on goal in the Brazilian Cup

Some will say that everyone deserves a second chance; others will argue that serving just seven of a 22-year sentence is far too little for ordering a murder and kidnapping, then feeding dismembered body parts of the victim to dogs. That is the subject of widespread debate in Brazil these days. Former Flamengo goalkeeper and captain Bruno — once even considered a potential Brazil international for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa — has been granted permission to play for lower-division side Vasco-AC. He was in goal last night in the first round of the Copa do Brasil. The match against Velo Clube marked the return of the black-and-whites from the northern state of Acre to the national cup after 24 years. They had previously appeared only twice, and their greatest historical achievement has been reaching the third tier.

Instead of celebrating their return to the national stage, however, the club drew attention for all the wrong reasons. Even if one were to overlook the signing of a goalkeeper convicted in 2013 of ordering the murder of his girlfriend, Brazilian model Eliza Samudio — because he refused to pay child support for their son — it is very difficult to understand the decision of Vasco’s players to take the field wearing shirts in support of three teammates accused of gang-raping two young women.

The image of the home team before kickoff quickly spread across social media and appeared in numerous Brazilian outlets, pushing the match itself into the background. As for Bruno (41), Vasco-AC is his third club since being released on parole. He spent just under seven years behind bars. He is a goalkeeper who made more than 100 appearances for the famous Flamengo and was even mentioned in the media as a possible Brazil call-up. With the Rio giants, he won the Brazilian championship in 2009. But a — to put it mildly — troubled life led him not to Europe’s biggest stadiums (he had even been linked with Barcelona), but to prison instead. Regarding the result of the match between Vasco and Velo Clube, the visitors — playing in the national cup for the first time in their 115-year history — advanced to the second round after a 1–1 draw and a 3–2 penalty shootout victory. Bruno saved two spot-kicks, but it was not enough to prevent elimination.