Comercial de Ribeirão Preto Match Interrupted by Fan Harassment of Team Doctor

A Campeonato Paulista Série A4 match between Comercial de Ribeirão Preto and Nacional on Saturday, March 7, 2026, was temporarily halted after a fan of the home team engaged in sexual harassment towards the visiting team’s doctor, Bianca Francelino. The incident occurred at the Francisco de Palma Travassos stadium in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo.

Details of the Harassment

According to reports, the fan directed sexually explicit comments and gestures towards Dr. Francelino during the game. “He made comments like: ‘Hot doctor, beautiful doctor, come here and examine me’, ‘You work for me privately, I’ll pay your salary’, and he pointed to his private parts,” Dr. Francelino stated to Metrópoles. Players and staff from Nacional alerted the referee to the harassment.

Match Interruption and Protocol Activation

The referee, Ana Caroline Carvalho, immediately activated the protocol outlined in the Treaty for Diversity and Against Intolerance in São Paulo Football, pausing the match to address the situation. The referee consulted with Dr. Francelino, who confirmed the harassment and expressed her willingness to continue working the game. Despite this, the harassing fan continued making inappropriate comments, and other fans joined in with similar remarks.

Responses from Clubs and Federation

Nacional released a statement strongly condemning the harassment of Dr. Francelino, expressing “total solidarity and admiration for the strength shown in continuing in the game despite what happened.” The São Paulo Football Federation (FPF) likewise issued a statement repudiating the incident and promising to refer the case to authorities for prosecution of the responsible individual.

Dr. Francelino’s Response

Despite the traumatic experience, Dr. Francelino expressed her determination to continue working in football. She acknowledged the fear and potential for continued harassment but emphasized her passion for the sport and her profession. She chose not to file a police report due to concerns about further exposure and judgment.

Comercial Futebol Clube

Comercial Futebol Clube, based in Ribeirão Preto, currently competes in the Campeonato Paulista Série A4, the fourth tier of the São Paulo state football league. The club was founded on October 10, 1911, and its home colors are white and black. Wikipedia states the club’s home ground is the Palma Travassos stadium, with a capacity of 18,277.

Metrópoles attempted to contact Comercial for comment but did not receive a response as of the time of publication.