Vasco member files complaint against Fernando Diniz | OneFootball

A member of Vasco da Gama, Aline da Rocha Moreira, filed a formal complaint with the Compliance Department of Vasco da Gama SAF reporting possible practices of moral harassment and abuse of power in the professional football environment of the club, involving coach Fernando Diniz.

The document points to episodes of public scolding and exposure of athletes, arguing that, depending on the frequency and manner, this type of conduct can exceed the limits of technical leadership and constitute embarrassment in the workplace.

So far, there has been no official statement from Vasco's SAF regarding the case.

Complaint cites episode against Mirassol and calls for internal investigation

In the complaint, the member cites as an example the episode that occurred during Vasco's debut in the Brasileirão against Mirassol. On that occasion, Fernando Diniz exploded at players during the technical break in the first half, when the match was tied 1-1. Shortly after, Vasco was defeated 2-1.

The document also mentions labor regulations, internal policies to combat harassment, and guidelines for protecting the mental health of athletes and professionals. Among the requests presented are the opening of an internal investigation, the adoption of preventive measures, the reinforcement of complaint channels, and the provision of psychological support to people who may have been exposed to situations considered embarrassing.

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Diniz defends himself and claims to have an energetic but “loving” stance

After the match against Mirassol, Fernando Diniz explained his stance in a press conference. The coach admitted to having a more energetic way of demanding from the athletes but denied any intention of embarrassment or harm to the players.

According to Diniz, the demands are part of his working method and aim to extract the maximum performance from the team, always with respect. The coach also stated that if he goes too far at any point, he sees no problem in apologizing.

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Fernando Diniz in a Vasco match (Photo: Peter Leone/Gazeta Press)

History of Fernando Diniz's outbursts on the sidelines

Known for his intense profile, Fernando Diniz has accumulated other notable episodes of public discussions throughout his career. In the 2025 Brasileirão, for Vasco, the coach gave a harsh scolding to the young Rayan at São Januário during a match against Corinthians, complaining about the forward's defensive recovery.

Before that, during his time at São Paulo, Diniz was involved in a discussion with Tchê Tchê, calling the midfielder “ungrateful” and “conceited” during a game with closed doors during the pandemic. Despite the episode, the two worked together again later.

The coach has also been involved in conflicts with players like Luciano when he was leading Fluminense, and with goalkeeper Tiago Volpi, who reported a heated discussion during training at São Paulo — a situation that ended with an apology from the coach.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.