Gio Queiroz, who plays on loan at Levante from Barça, published an open letter on Twitter denouncing having suffered “abusive conduct” at the Catalan club. The Brazilian, claiming to have proof of what happened, explained everything that happened during her time at the Barça entity, which she arrived in July 2020. After publishing her testimony, AS has contacted Barça, which ensures that it studied the case of the player internally and they settled it for not having any proof of irregularity.
More specifically, the player’s complaint was dealt with at Barça by the ‘compliance officer’, found no evidence. From the Barça club they also report that the player went to FIFA with her complaint and that the highest body in world football agreed with Barça in this conflictwhose focus was on alleged pressure for the player not to go with the Brazilian National Team.
From the club they say that Gio had been a close contact of a positive in a period of maximum alert during the pandemic and that he went to Brazil without any authorization before the end of his confinement period. This caused a sanction from the Barça entity for an act of indiscipline by the player, who was notified that, from then on, she would only play for Barcelona B.
These facts coincide with the version of the player, who assures that everything changed when she received the call from Brazil, although in her case the presence of “arbitrary methods” and pressure from the club is pointed out. “I received indications that playing for Brazil would not be the best for my future at the club. […] They were cornering me in an abusive way so that I would resign from the Brazilian National Team. Arbitrary methods were used to harm my life within the club.” she affirms, denouncing an “illegal confinement” and “threats” with being removed by the club director.
In the last part of his open letter, he assures that abuse and psychological violence were on the rise. “They became more intense and destructive,” he adds, explaining that all the evidence is attached to a complaint already filed. He also points to these attitudes as something toxic and structural “of a patriarchal society” in addition to asking the Blaugrana club for more measures to prevent a repetition of what happened. “I hope that Barcelona fulfills its role and acts accordingly”, expose before concluding. “I also hope that the club, through its president, commits to implementing effective measures to combat this problem.”
This is the complete letter of Gio Queiroz
Dear Mr. President,
It has not been easy to get to this point. There were many months of anguish and suffering. Despite everything I’ve been through, today I feel capable of denouncing the abusive behavior that I suffered within FC Barcelona’s women’s football.
I hope that my testimony will also help other women who suffer or have suffered some type of abuse or violence to break their silence, raise their voices and denounce their aggressors.
The culture of harassment and sexist violence against women cannot be accepted or tolerated. The vast majority of offenders use their power within corporations to subjugate their victims, including the most vulnerable, such as minors.
In this letter I will try to give a brief exposition of the experiences that I have lived. The complaint, with the details, main grounds and other evidence, has already been sent to the board of directors. Those responsible for abusive conduct are perfectly identified.
I arrived at the club in July 2020 when I was only 17 years old. I was very well received by the players and the coaching staff. My motivation was maximum and I arrived with a great desire to learn and grow. I believed that with effort, dedication and work I was going to evolve and have my opportunities.
The first few months were important in the adaptation process. I was in a good dynamic until I received the first call from the Brazilian National Team. From that moment on, I began to receive different treatment at the club.
First, I received indications that playing with the National Team would not be the best for my future at the club. Despite the unpleasant and persistent harassment, I did not give importance and attention to the matter.
Over time, the attacks began to be carried out through other pressure mechanisms inside and outside the club. They were cornering me in an abusive way so that I would give up defending the Brazilian National Team. Arbitrary methods were used with the aim of harming my professional life within the club (the evidence is part of the complaint).
In February 2021 I was subjected to illegal confinement by the head of the club’s medical services. She claimed that I was a close contact of a positive case of COVID-19. From the beginning, I sensed that the real reasons for the confinement were others.
As the doctor’s order was contrary to health protocol, I contacted the Catalan Health Department directly and asked for clarification. The answer was clear and forceful. My case was not and could not be considered a close contact according to current health protocol.
When questioning her (the head of medical services), she replied: “Your case is different. I was authorized to make a special confinement for you.” I, indignant, still asked: “How special?”. She avoided the subject and never answered me. (The tests are part of the complaint).
In the end, they illegally locked me up and I couldn’t leave the house. I couldn’t train or have a normal routine. I was devastated. That arbitrariness also meant not traveling with the team to the final of the Copa de la Reina.
After completing the imposed quarantine, I received authorization from FIFA to join the Brazilian National Team in the United States, with the full knowledge of the club. Before traveling and during the concentration period, I carried out several PCR tests, always with a negative result.
When I returned to Barcelona, they called me to a meeting with the club director. At that meeting I was accused of having committed serious indiscipline and that, therefore, I would be removed from the team and suffer serious consequences. I was in shock.
They accused me of having breached the confinement, of having traveled without authorization from the club and without the consent of the team captains. I tried to show that this was not true. He was adamant, quite aggressive, and in a threatening tone, he told me, “Don’t worry. We’ll take good care of you.”
I panicked. I feared for my future. I had participated in the campaigns of the Barça Foundation for the approval of the Law for the Protection of Minors against Violence and, at the same time within the club, I was totally unprotected.
I came home completely devastated. I cried many times. I felt a huge emptiness. I had no strength to fight for my rights.
From that moment, my life changed forever. I was completely exposed to humiliating and embarrassing situations for months inside the club. It was clear that he was seeking to destroy my reputation, undermine my self-esteem, degrade my working conditions, and belittle and underestimate my psychological conditions.
The fact of being a minor does not seem to have been an impediment, a moral dilemma for my aggressor. He planned and carried out each of his raids without any objection. Certainly, he acted with the feeling of impunity, that he had the protection of his position within FC Barcelona.
Over time, the abuse and psychological violence became more intense and destructive. (The tests are part of the complaint).
Abuses are born and thrive in situations of power imbalance and in environments that allow such practices while silencing and shaming their victims. Women deserve respect and dignity.
If there is no preventive treatment and guidance regarding toxic activities in the work environment, the scenario will hardly change. These behaviors are still practiced due to the cultural and structural concepts of a patriarchal society.
A change is necessary, both in the way of thinking and acting of companies to break with patterns from centuries ago that can no longer continue.
FC Barcelona is not directly responsible for the reported abusive conduct. The club must be responsible for ensuring physical, mental, psychological and moral integrity against any form of violence, establishing comprehensive protection through awareness, prevention, protection and repair of the damage caused.
My personal life was deeply affected by these demeaning and negative experiences. The memories, the trauma, and its effects are likely to last for many years. I lived through many months of anguish and sadness, unimaginable when I arrived at the club.
Today I want to take the first step to fully recover my freedom and emotional stability and that is why I decided to write this open letter.
I hope that Barcelona fulfills its institutional role and acts consistently and transparently, investigating and reporting possible crimes to the relevant authorities.
I also hope that the club, through its president, commits to implementing effective measures to combat the obvious and well-documented problem of moral abuse, workplace harassment and psychological violence against women.
Finally, I want to express my deep gratitude to all the people who have helped and supported me in the most difficult moments.
Sincerely
Giovana Queiroz Costa