Venezuelan footballers allege years of abuse by former coach

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CARACAS, Oct.6 (Reuters) – Two dozen Venezuelan footballers said in an open letter Tuesday that many of the players had suffered years of sexual abuse and harassment at the hands of former national team coach Kenneth Zseremeta.

In the letter posted on Twitter by Deyna Castellanos – a player for the national team and Atletico de Madrid in Spain – the players asked world football governing body FIFA, as well as other organizations and Football leagues do not allow Zseremeta, who is of Panamanian nationality. , to continue working in women’s football.

The letter stated that an anonymous player said she was abused by Zseremeta in 2014 when she was 14.

“Many of us still have traumas and mental injuries that come with us in our daily lives,” the players wrote.

Zseremeta did not respond to a request for comment sent via a Facebook message.

Venezuela’s chief prosecutor Tarek Saab said in a tweet Tuesday evening that he had tasked a prosecutor to open a criminal investigation into Zseremeta.

The Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) has said it supports the players.

“We are committed to ensuring respect for women in this sport,” tweeted the FVF on Tuesday evening. “As a federation, we support women today and at all times.”

The gamers’ allegation comes months after several women accused prominent Venezuelan writer Willy McKee of sexual misconduct. McKee in April confessed on Instagram to having committed statutory rape and was later found dead after falling nine stories from a building. Read more

Reporting by Deisy Buitrago Writing by Luc Cohen Editing by Marguerita Choy

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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