Dudu files criminal complaint against Leila Pereira; legal battle gains new chapter

The feud between Dudu and Leila Pereira has taken a serious turn in court. The Atlético striker initially filed a criminal complaint against the Palmeiras president, formally accusing her of defamation and libel for statements made by the director. The case, in fact, joins other lawsuits filed in the Civil Court and the Superior Court of Justice (STJD). A hearing in the sports court is already scheduled for next week.

Dudu's new criminal case is pending in the 13th Criminal Court of São Paulo. The player's defense, for example, believes that Leila's remarks were intended to tarnish his reputation. A hearing for this specific case has been scheduled for August 26th. The Palmeiras president, for her part, stated that the case is already with her lawyers.

Furthermore, the dispute is also ongoing in the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD). A complaint against Dudu, filed by a women's organization, was accepted by the prosecutor's office. The hearing in this case, moreover, is scheduled for next Friday (18). Therefore, the parties have already been duly notified to give testimony.

The friction between the two became public last year. It all began, in fact, after Dudu's tumultuous departure from Palmeiras. At the time, Leila Pereira stated in an interview that the striker "left through the back door." The player subsequently responded quite harshly on social media.

The Palmeiras president, however, changed the tone of the public discussion. In later interviews, she raised the issue of sexism as a motivation. Leila stated that Dudu wouldn't have acted the same way if the president were a man.

"I have no doubt that everything this athlete did is because I am a woman," declared the leader.

Follow our content on social media: Bluesky, Threads, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook .