Three professional footballers in Argentina, associated with the alleged rape of a sports journalist in a hotel room, were placed under house arrest on Thursday.
A judge ordered a 90-day house arrest for three of the four defendants, all of whom play for the first-division club Velez Sarsfield. The fourth player was released on bail.
The entire quartet was also suspended from their team, which currently ranks third in Argentina’s top league and counts Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone among its former players.
The incident came to light after a 24-year-old sports journalist accused the players of raping her following an invitation by Uruguayan international Sebastian Sosa to a hotel room in Tucuman, Argentina, on March 3. She alleged that the other three defendants were also present. According to her account, she felt dizzy after consuming a few drinks, laid down on a bed, and was subsequently raped.
Prosecutor Eugenia Posse seeks to press rape charges against players Braian Cufre and Jose Florentin, while Abiel Osario faces allegations of sexual abuse. All three are under house arrest.
Sosa, granted $57,000 bail and prohibited from leaving the country for 90 days, is charged as an accessory. The prosecution had sought pre-trial detention for all four men to prevent interference in the investigation.
During the hearing, all players testified and could potentially face prison sentences ranging from four to 20 years.
Football club Velez Sarsfield, headquartered in Buenos Aires, announced the suspension of the four players and initiated an internal investigation.
“The club reiterates its deepest concern about the reported events, which are clearly contrary to the principles and values of our institution,” it stated in a Monday release.
The hearing coincides with the release of former Brazil international Dani Alves on bail of a million euros by a Spanish court, pending an appeal against his conviction for raping a woman at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022.
Meanwhile, in Brazil, former Manchester City and Real Madrid player Robinho seeks to postpone the start of his nine-year sentence for his involvement in the 2013 gang rape of a woman at a Milan nightclub.
