Every day a new sex scandal in the world of sport. After the Yannick Agnel affair which has just broken out in France, a new affair is splashing the mythical FC Barcelona in Spain. The club which lost Lionel Messi this summer sees one of its trainers being accused of sexual violence. “Several complaints have been filed” according to a spokesperson for the Catalan regional police, although he did not indicate the exact number or the content of these.
According to information from the local daily Macaw published last Friday, about sixty former students of Escola Barcelona, a primary school located in the Catalan capital, have been victims or witnesses of sexual violence on the part of Albert Benaiges, the trainer in question. Facts that would have unfolded over more than 20 years, according to the newspaper. “An investigation has been opened, the case is not closed and the police are waiting for a number of complaints.” in order to constitute a case for justice, added the spokesman of the police force.
Regarding the charges against Albert Benaiges, Ara specifies that it would be “masturbations performed near 13-year-old children, watching pornographic films together, touching and playing games of a sexual nature”. A physical education teacher for nearly 38 years in the establishment, he allegedly committed these acts in the school gymnasium, at his own home, in the showers as well as in colonies.
Barça president will help justice
Next to this activity in this school, where he worked until 2010, he is best known for having been one of the most popular coaches of the FC Barcelona training center, participating in particular in the emergence of Andres Iniesta, one of the best players of his generation. Returning to the club after the arrival of new president Joan Laporta last March, he recently left the club “for personal reasons” indicates the current president. “We are collecting all possible information on the subject and when we have it, we will make an official statement “, he added, nevertheless assuring “its full support to all possible victims who may have suffered from these reprehensible acts”.