Volleyball Coach Investigated for Allegedly Demanding Athlete Stipends in Limeira, SP

A volleyball coach in Limeira, São Paulo, is under investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) for allegedly demanding that athletes hand over their cost-of-living stipends as a condition for participating in a sports project. The MP has opened a civil inquiry into the alleged scheme, which reportedly involved coach Fábio Eduardo Cassiano requiring athletes to give him up to R$350 of the R$500 monthly stipend provided by the city hall. These funds were allegedly transferred via Pix to Cassiano's personal account. According to prosecutor Débora Simonetti, Cassiano claimed the money was for the project's benefit but used it as a requirement for athlete participation, influencing team selection, captaincy, and playing time. The investigation suggests that athletes who did not pay were excluded from the project. In response, Cassiano stated that some parents offered to help the project with additional expenses and denied that the stipends were tied to participation, calling the amounts a "great investment." The city hall, upon receiving the MP's recommendation, has suspended its contract with the Instituto Crescer Juntos, to which Cassiano belongs, and halted financial transfers to the organization. The president of the institute, Fúlvia Lúcia Margotti, is also being investigated for allegedly being aware of Cassiano's conduct, though she denies any wrongdoing and claims to have all necessary documentation. The MP has also forwarded the case to the Civil Police for a criminal inquiry and is investigating a private dormitory maintained by Cassiano where he allegedly selected students for the project.