Posted
Luiz Souza will not be able to lead his team during the women’s LNA play-outs. An investigation once morest him was opened by Swiss Sport Integrity.
Luiz Souza, a coach who is talking regarding him.
Tamedia/BZ/Andreas Blatter
The case was revealed by Neuchâtel radio RTN this Friday morning. Luiz Souza, the coach of the women’s LNA team in Val-de-Travers, has been suspended by the Swiss Sport Integrity, who opened proceedings once morest him for “harming mental integrity”. Several denunciations have been filed once morest the coach of the Neuchâtel team. Remaining with the benefit of the presumption of innocence, he is however officially suspended.
Several denunciations were made to Swiss Sport Integrity, the reporting and investigation service for Swiss sport, between 2021 and 2022, concerning the behavior of the coach. An email announcing the opening of this investigation was sent Thursday to Swiss Volley, as well as to the club and members of the first team of Val-de-Travers.
Contacted by telephone, the president of the Vallonnier club Joëlle Roy does not want to make an official decision, while regretting what is happening. “Officially, we are waiting for the conclusion of the investigation before making statements,” she explains. Luiz Souza is suspended, but that wouldn’t have changed anything: he’s been off work since last Monday, and wouldn’t have been able to coach the team this weekend and the following one anyway. It’s chance, it falls like that. The “Valtra” team, which begins its play-out on Saturday once morest Toggenburg (5:30 p.m.), will be coached in the circumstances by Romeu Filho, current coach of VBC La Suze (1st League).
“Aggressive, even insulting”
According to several testimonies from members of the club, the Brazilian coach would have been “regularly aggressive”, even “insulting”, towards the players and the members of the staff of the volleyball team.
This is not the first time that the Val-de-Travers coach has made headlines: two years ago, almost the entire workforce was fired following internal disputes.
Luiz Souza remains, however, for the benefit of the presumption of innocence, even though his suspension is official. He explained to RTN not having “directly insulted” the players, but admitted “reacting impulsively in a match” during certain phases of the game. He also believes that his players “always had the opportunity to discuss” with him, while adding that “the atmosphere within the team is good, despite the different characters”.
La Swiss Sport Integrity confirme
Head of Ethics with the Swiss Sport Integrity, which works under the aegis of Swiss Olympics, Markus Pfisterer confirms the opening of the procedure… but cannot say much more. “I can confirm that an investigation has been opened and that it is important to us to clarify the requests we have received, he explains. They come from several people, but it is not for me to tell you who these people are. Now, I cannot tell you if this procedure will last two, three, four weeks or more. We will take the time necessary to clarify the situation.”
In the meantime, Luiz Souza will remain suspended… or on sick leave.
