Brazilian referee faces backlash over alleged sexist behavior in women's football match

Referee Juliano José Alves Rodrigues is in contention for his alleged sexism perpetrated in a Brazilian women's football match between Bragantino and São Paulo . The entire situation has drawn widespread condemnation and has led to the FPF launching an official inquiry.
Allegations emerge during the Paulista Feminina matchThe controversy arose during a Paulista Feminina match held on Thursday, when Bragantino midfielder Stella Terra reported that Rodrigues made an inappropriate comment towards her. Speaking to TNT Sports, Terra recounted, "He turned to me and said, ‘I’ll come for you at the right time.’" She further stated that São Paulo's Aline Milene witnessed the exchange and corroborated her account.

Amanhã tem rodada dupla da #BaseFeminina do Tricolor!

🆚 Ituano
🏆 Paulista Sub-15
⏰ 16h
🏟️ Complexo Social do MorumBIS

🆚 Corinthians
🏆 Paulista Sub-20
⏰ 20h
🏟️ Complexo Social do MorumBIS

🎟️ Os ingressos gratuitos deverão ser retirados pelo site https://t.co/gG0gtiqqnv… pic.twitter.com/Ru6iWa1QDN

— São Paulo Feminino (@SaoPauloFC_Fem) May 17, 2025

Terra emphasised that the referee's prejudiced and sexist comments were audible to everyone present. In response, she raised her hands to signal that such behaviour was unacceptable, referencing a new FPF protocol that mandates referees to pause matches upon reports of discriminatory conduct. Despite this, Rodrigues allowed the game to continue without interruption, exacerbating the situation.
Players and clubs demand accountabilityAline Milene condemned the referee's conduct, stating, "this shouldn’t happen in women’s football. When male referees are assigned, some believe they can say anything they want. There has to be respect." the Bragantino and São Paulo clubs issued statements expressing full support for their players and calling for appropriate action against the alleged misconduct.
FPF initiates a formal investigationIn response to the claims made, the FPF set up an official inquiry regarding the conduct of Rodrigues. The federation mentioned its zero-tolerance policy against any type of prejudice, discrimination, or situation that would treat a person with disrespect on or off the pitch. The FPF assured that it investigates in full any allegation of penalising acts that hinder the principles of equality, respect, and integrity. Reinforced by witness statements and the review of video evidence, the investigation considers all facts related to the alleged incident.

Also Read: FIFA Women's World Cup expanded to 48 teams from 2031

This affair is a stark reminder of how there is still sexism in the world of sport while underscoring the need for governing bodies to preserve a code of conduct that guarantees a respectful and equal poker game to all concerned.