The head coach of a Plymouth soccer team was fired last week after what his bosses deemed was “unacceptable behavior” during a game against the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School boys team. 

The Vineyarders squared off against Rising Tide Charter Public School in Plymouth on Tuesday and got up to an early 3-1 lead, Vineyard coach Rodrigo Honorato said in an interview with the Gazette. 

According to Mr. Honorato and other officials, about 20 minutes into the game, Rising Tide coach Tony Reis told the Vineyard coach, who is Brazilian and often talks to his team in Portuguese, to speak to Vineyard players in English. 

Spectators bring a Brazilian flag to a home game after the Rising Tide game.

Tim Johnson

Spectators bring a Brazilian flag to a home game after the Rising Tide game.

Tim Johnson

The incident was upsetting for Mr. Honorato and his players, who are predominantly of Brazilian descent or from South America. 

“I will speak the language want to speak with them,” Mr. Honorato said on Monday. “It’s not against the MIAA rules.”

Mr. Honorato raised the issue with the Rising Tide athletic director, and Mr. Reis apologized at half time. Mr. Honorato said he accepted the apology, but relayed that the incident wasn’t going to be tolerated.

“That’s just unacceptable,” he said. 

By Wednesday, Rising Tide decided to part ways with the coach.

“On Tuesday, during a Boys Varsity Soccer game versus Martha’s Vineyard, the Rising Tide Boys Varsity Soccer coach engaged in unacceptable behavior unbecoming of a staff member at Rising Tide,” head of school Michael O’Keefe said in a statement. “The Boys Varsity Soccer coach, new to the school this season, was dismissed from Rising Tide on Wednesday morning.”

He declined to comment further, saying it was a personnel issue. 

Mr. Reis, in a statement to the Gazette, said the Vineyard coach had come well off his bench close to the halfway line. Mr. Reis, who understands Portuguese, claimed Mr. Honorato was telling the Vineyard players that “these guys can’t play, this is our game,” Mr. Reis wrote.

Mr. Reis claims he did not swear during the incident, saying he only yelled “speak in English will you.”

Interim Vineyard regional high school athletic Mike Joyce said the Vineyard team comported themselves with dignity.

“They showed great maturity and leadership,” he said. “They did everything exactly how you would hope.”

Mr. Honorato said this is not the first time such an incident has happened, and he told his players to keep level heads and let their game speak for itself. 

“The best way to respond is to keep on playing,” he said. “If you want to resolve the issue, score more goals.” 

The Vineyard eventually won 7-1

The boys soccer team has gotten off to a good start this season, though came up short in the anticipated matchup with Nantucket over the weekend. Mr. Honorato said he is trying to move past the Rising Tide game and focus on the rest of the season ahead.

“I’m just trying to coach,” he said. “I don’t like the spotlight.”