Scandal in Brazil: six youth players were dismissed over a photo with a porn actress

Atlético Goianiense, a team currently playing in Brazil's Serie B, decided to dismiss six players from its Under-17 squad after they took a photo with adult film actress Elisa Sanches. According to local media, the Goiânia institution cited "lack of discipline" and "poor performance" as reasons for the decision.

The sporting context was not favorable either, since the youth team is currently last in the Brasileirão Under-17, with only three points earned in 15 matches, so the management believed that the poor on-field performance reinforced the decision to remove them.

Meanwhile, Elisa Sanches herself had already made headlines in 2024 when she confessed that she wanted to leave her career in adult films to become a soccer referee. "My biggest fear is prejudice on the field. That's the only thing holding me back today," she told UOL in March last year.

"It was always my childhood dream, but life made me forget it. I set myself the goal that this year I would sign up and finally start my course to become a soccer referee. I feel prepared and in good physical shape to step onto the field. I see a bright future as a referee. I want to study hard for the exams and pass them on the first try," she added at the time.

The actress has even already had experience officiating on a soccer field. In 2020, she refereed a charity match in Queimados, Rio de Janeiro, whose goal was to collect food for families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.