Boa Esporte signs convicted murderer Bruno after early release from prison

A real-life soap opera is unwinding in Brazilian football, as Bruno Fernandes de Souza is returning to the pitch.

Bruno, who was convicted of murdering his former girlfriend and having her body fed to his dogs, signed a two-year contract with Boa Esporte Clube on Monday and was presented by the club at dawn on Tuesday, only 17 days after the Brazilian 'keeper was granted the right to remain at liberty. In 2013, he was sentenced to 22 years and three months in prison after confessing to ordering a friend to murder Eliza Samudio and concealing her body.

Related - Bruno's return: Should a murderer be allowed back into football

According to Globo's Bruno Giufrida and Regis Melo, Boa Esporte threatened to shut down the presentation if there were questions asked that didn't pertain to football. But the 'keeper was asked why he thought he was worthy of pulling on a club's shirt again, to which he replied: "I'm not going to answer you."

Bruno said: "I'm very happy for the opportunity given. I've been getting ready for a few years. People run from me because of what happened in the past. Boa is opening the door. I'm very happy, motivated. Thank you for being here. God is opening the doors for people. I'm sure it's God."

Questions were barred by Boa Esporte, but, when Bruno wasn't bothered, he said: "People, like my wife, didn't accept that I end my career. She motivated me the most. The first thing to do is to prepare to play. God will guide my steps. Anyway, I have to believe in myself."

Asked about the possibility of returning to prison as his last appeal is still being considered, Bruno said: "Nobody closes doors opened by God."

As the Guardian's Jonathan Watts wrote, Bruno's return to football is triggering outrage in Brazil and anger from Samudio's family, as well as groups who are campaigning against the high levels of gender-based violence in Brazil. Three sponsors have reportedly withdrawn support for Boa Esporte, while hackers apparently posted denunciations on the club's homepage. Djamila Ribeiro, a political philosopher and feminist activist, told UOL: "Women are outraged and so is the general public. It is as if he had gone unpunished."

The signing of Bruno came less than one week after International Women's Day. To mark the day, and in a stark contrast to Boa Esporte's presentation, Cruzeiro wore shirts with messages highlighting the daily challenges faced by women, including "a rape every 11 minutes."

Bruno is joining Boa Esporte having served less than one-third of the 22-year sentence he was given for ordering the murder of his former girlfriend and the mother of his child. Samudio went missing after she sued for child support, and the 'keeper subsequently confessed to conspiring with friends who tortured her and fed her body to his rottweilers.