Beach volleyball player Carol Solberg was punished by the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) for having made statements celebrating the arrest of former president Jair Bolsonaro during a stage of the international circuit, in November last year.
According to the stipulated penalty, Carol will not be able to participate in the Beach Pro Tour Elite tournament, in João Pessoa, scheduled to take place between March 11th and 15th.
The information was initially published by Juca Kfouri on his blog at UOL and confirmed by Sheet.
By winning the bronze medal alongside her partner Rebecca during the stage in Adelaide, Australia, Carol Solberg celebrated the arrest of Jair Bolsonaro.
“Yes, it’s an incredible day for me, I’m very happy. It was also a wonderful day for the world. Yesterday, in Brazil, we put the worst president in our history in prison. Bolsonaro is in prison, and this is so important that we celebrate”, said the athlete in English.
“Let’s celebrate! Bolsonaro in jail, guys”, he added in Portuguese.
When contacted, the advisor informed that the athlete would not comment.
Carol Solberg would have violated article 8.3 of the FIVB’s disciplinary regulations, which deals with “unsporting conduct” practiced by athletes through insults, offensive gestures, signs or language, demonstration of a non-sporting nature or behavior that brings discredit to volleyball and/or the FIVB.
This was not the first time that the player criticized the former president. After also taking bronze in the international circuit stage in Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, in September 2020, Carol said: “Just so I don’t forget: out, Bolsonaro!”.
“I’m not an activist, but I feel obliged to take a stand and it’s regrettable and curious that I could be punished for exercising my freedom of expression against this misgovernment”, said Carol at the time.
The act even generated a note of repudiation from the CBV (Brazilian Volleyball Confederation). The confederation has not yet commented on the FIVB’s punishment.
