(Barcelona) FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernández said he was “surprised and astonished” that the former director of the youth teams was accused of sexually assaulting dozens of former students of a school public office where he also worked.
Xavi spoke on Saturday, shortly after authorities in northeastern Spain said they were opening an investigation following a report released by the newspaper. ARA.
The newspaper reported that more than 60 of its former students accuse Albert Benaiges of sexually assaulting them while he was a physical education teacher at a public school in Barcelona. ARA mentioned that Benaiges has denied any wrongdoing.
It seems that none of the former FC Barcelona players have joined the charges.
The 71-year-old Benaiges was a key member of Barcelona’s training academy from 1991 to 2011, coinciding with a generation of the club’s best players including Andrés Iniesta and Xavi.
After stints at foreign clubs, Benaiges returned to Barcelona last year, following the return of Joan Laporta as team president. He resigned last week for personal reasons, the club said.
“I have no information that episodes of any kind took place, although that doesn’t mean they didn’t,” Xavi said at a press conference before. match. He was my trainer and I never had any suspicions. I am very surprised and amazed. I did not expect that. ”
“It’s a very delicate, very complicated question,” added Xavi. I spoke with the technical staff, because we like Albert Benaiges very much. It surprised us a lot. We have always had a great relationship and he left a great legacy. It is justice that will have to decide. ”
Laporta explained that FC Barcelona were analyzing the information about the case.
“This man who left the club for personal reasons was hired for his talent to find players and assess the talent of young players,” said Laporta. What the club does is collate all the information that comes out so that we can make an official statement. I will also say that anyone who tries to inappropriately tie FC Barcelona to their problem will receive a firm response from the club in defense of their legitimate interests. ”