Caso de ensino: gestão antirracista no futebol

Abstract

Leila Mejdalani Pereira is an established businesswoman who currently also serves as the President of Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras. She began her tenure as club president in 2021 and, despite her successful business career and her role as one of Palmeiras' major sponsors, she has faced resistance from the club’s supporters, particularly from its organized fan base. Nevertheless, President Leila has consistently taken a clear stance on the political issues surrounding Brazilian football and is well known for speaking out against the misogynistic environment that persists in the sport. Her response was no different following the recent racist incident targeting striker Luighi during a match in Paraguay against Cerro Porteño. In the face of structural silence, Leila publicly expressed full support for the victim, formally demanded the punishment of the perpetrators, and urged football authorities to take a stand in fostering a respectful and inclusive sporting environment. Accordingly, this teaching case can be applied in disciplines such as Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior, Diversity Management, Strategy, or other humanities-related fields, provided that appropriate adaptations are made.