Grêmio Assistant Coach Alexandre Mendes Arrested Over Protective Order Violation
Arriving at Salgado Filho International Airport in Porto Alegre alongside the Grêmio traveling party on Thursday, October 8, 2026, assistant coach Alexandre Mendes was arrested by authorities. According to reporting by GZH, the member of Renato Portaluppi’s technical staff was detained immediately upon disembarking from a flight originating in Belém following a Campeonato Brasileiro fixture against Remo.
The detention stems from an alleged failure to comply with a protective order issued in connection with an ongoing criminal proceeding. GZH reported that the protective measure has been in effect since March 5, 2026. The alleged violation centers on an encounter at the Expointer agricultural exhibition in September 2026, where Mendes reportedly frequented the same public grounds as the complainant without establishing direct contact.
Public Ministry Pursues Psychological Violence Charges
The underlying legal matter dates back to August 2024, when an initial proceeding was registered at the 2nd Court of Domestic and Family Violence in the Central Forum of the Comarca de Porto Alegre. At that time, the complainant stated that her six-year relationship with Mendes—which began during a prior stint with the Porto Alegre club—had concluded roughly 15 days prior. Protective orders initially granted to the woman were subsequently archived following the police report.
However, the Public Ministry pursued the matter independently, arguing that sufficient evidence existed to bring formal charges. On July 10, 2025, the 2nd Court of Domestic and Family Violence accepted the prosecution’s complaint of alleged psychological violence, formally making Mendes a defendant. Mendes was temporarily removed from his coaching duties at Grêmio when the charges were initially advanced in 2025 before returning to the bench.
Defense Claims Arrest Resulted from Inadvertent Encounter
Legal representation for the assistant coach disputed the validity of the arrest, asserting that the interaction at the public fair was entirely inadvertent. Attorney Tapir Rocha Neto, speaking to GZH, stated that Mendes had no prior knowledge of the complainant’s presence at the Expointer event. O motivo que ensejou a prisão foi o fato de o Alexandre ter comparecido na Expointer, evento público que ocorreu em setembro, sem ter qualquer conhecimento de que ela (possível vítima) estaria lá
Rocha Neto told GZH, adding that no electronic or physical contact occurred between the parties on that day.
Grêmio released an official statement addressing the afternoon developments:
“O Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense informa que acompanha com atenção os desdobramentos do caso que envolve o profissional Alexandre Mendes, após as informações divulgadas na tarde desta quinta-feira (8). O Clube monitora a apuração dos fatos, de natureza estritamente pessoal, pelas autoridades competentes e irá se manifestar assim que reunir todos os elementos relativos ao processo”
As the legal proceedings continue in Porto Alegre, authorities have not announced any further procedural hearings regarding the alleged protective order violation.
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