Coach suspended after telling female players to open OnlyFans accounts

A football coach has been suspended after being found guilty of inappropriate conduct toward female players, including urging one to join an adult content platform.

Filipe Linz received a one-year and 15-day suspension from the Portuguese Football Federation following multiple allegations of sexual harassment and discriminatory behavior.

According to the Federation’s Disciplinary Council, the 40-year-old engaged in a pattern of misconduct between the 2020/21 and 2024/25 seasons. Evidence presented during the investigation reportedly included inappropriate messages sent to at least six players from Guia FC.

In one of the messages, Linz allegedly encouraged a player to open an account on OnlyFans, stating: “It’s always better than going to the roundabout, I would subscribe.”

The reference to the “roundabout” is said to relate to an area in Albufeira associated with street prostitution.

Additional messages reportedly included inappropriate remarks and suggestions. He allegedly told players they could be punished physically for missing training sessions and made comments such as: “Today you were going to take a shower with me, but now you’re not.” He was also accused of sending messages like “I dreamed about you” and making suggestive remarks about fathering a child with a player.

The Federation imposed a fine of approximately £866 alongside the suspension. In its findings, the prosecution noted that the OnlyFans-related comment “call into question the sexual objectification and commercialisation of the victim”.

Guia FC has also been sanctioned for failing to respond appropriately to earlier complaints. The club was fined £1,767 (€2,040) and ordered to play two matches behind closed doors after reportedly dismissing the players’ concerns as “jokes”.

Club president Alexandre Reis, vice-president Sandra Santos, and director Sandra Vicente were each suspended for one month for failing to act on reports dating back to 2024.

In response, Linz denied wrongdoing, claiming his messages were “taken out of context” and suggesting he may pursue defamation action against his accusers.

Although he had already been removed from the women’s team after the 2024/25 season, he continued working with the men’s team until the disciplinary ruling.

Meanwhile, Guia FC has criticized the decision, describing it as inconsistent and stating its intention to challenge the ruling while defending its reputation.