Football mascot 'groped and kissed female reporter' on pitch after late winner

Mascots are supposed to bring joy and excitement to football fans at a stadium, but one in Brazil allegedly brought anything but to a female reporter

Posted Wednesday, February 28, 2024 by Dailystar.co.uk

A female reporter has told how she was sexually harassed by a frisky football club mascot at a match in Brazil when he hugged her and tried to kiss her.

Horrified pitchside broadcaster Gisele Kumpel says the Internacional mascot, known as Saci, grabbed her after the club's midfielder Alan Patrick scored a late match-winning goal. The wide-eyed mascot wears Internacional's red strip with a giant grinning foam head topped with a red cap.

Gisele, from Brazilian broadcaster Radio Monumental, said: "He came up to me and hugged me. He stayed hugging me. Even with the mask on, he pushed my head and made a gesture of kissing me. I could hear the sound of the kiss and I felt his sweat."

She added: "I was the only woman on that side of the field. There were other journalists, but he only did that to me."

Police are now investigating the incident after Internacional officials suspended the mascot and handed over footage from the 25th February match against Gremio.

The man inside the mascot costume has not been named by the club or local media.

International said in a statement: "Regarding the registration of an incident related to the figure of the Saci mascot, Sport Club Internacional informs that it sent the images of its internal monitoring circuit to the Police Station in charge of investigating the episode."

They added: "We trust that all the facts will be duly clarified with the authority police. Therefore, and pending the prompt resolution of the case, the employee responsible for the mascot and the Club itself will remain at the disposal of the authorities. Until the process is completed, the employee will be separated from the representation of Saci."

Gisele said on social media: "Another day of women wanting to do their job in football and suffering for it with idiots who are criminals."