Mossos d’Esquadra arrested a UESants youth football coach this Tuesday in Barcelona on allegations of sexual abuse, according to sources cited by El Periódico de Catalunya. The suspect is a 33-year-old man who oversaw the women’s section of the club’s youth teams.
Three players affiliated with the club went to a Catalan police station last Monday to file a complaint against their coach. A day later, investigators moved to arrest the suspect. He is expected to appear in court in the morning, as reported by multiple outlets.
According to the sources interviewed, two of the three players would be underage and the third would have just turned 18. The complaints describe incidents of touching or kissing and inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature. There are also references to messages and approaches via social networks that the victims found offensive. Investigators consider it plausible that new complainants will emerge as the case becomes public and more details come to light.
The UESants organization has faced similar concerns in the past. A separate pederasty case involved a junior football coach associated with FC Barcelona, Albert Benaires, as uncovered by the Ara newspaper. Benaires was linked with the club for more than 15 years until 1991, during the 1980s in the Sants-Montjuïc district. Some of the minors affected by his actions later provided testimonies to El Periódico de Catalunya.
“We are hurt and stand with the players and their families,” said Joan Forcadell, president of AB Sants. He noted that while the complaints concern events that may have occurred last weekend, the identities of the affected players are not yet known. Forcadell also explained that he has been placed on administrative leave with pay while the situation is investigated and called for the defendant’s detention. He emphasized the need for transparency and safety, and he mentioned that a psychologist will soon consult with the affected families, with support coordinated through services provided by foundations such as the Vicki Bernadet Foundation after consultations with authorities.