Youth football coach arrested for sexual harassment of underage players
The Guardia Civil has arrested a 47-year-old man in Tenerife, accused of sexually harassing several members of a junior girls’ football team that he coached. The arrest was made as part of Operation Trainer following an investigation led by the Women and Minors Team (EMUME) of the Judicial Police in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
According to the authorities, the suspect allegedly committed the offences while working with the sports club where he had been involved for several years and had recently taken on the role of head coach for the under-17 female team.
The investigation began after officers received reports suggesting serious misconduct. Their priority was to protect the underage victims and establish the facts as quickly as possible. Within just a few days, investigators gathered sufficient evidence and testimony to understand how the accused allegedly carried out the repeated acts of harassment.
It is believed that the coach sent inappropriate and sexually suggestive messages to several of the players via instant messaging apps, and also made verbal comments of a sexual nature during training sessions and matches.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, the Guardia Civil moved quickly to identify, locate, and detain the suspect. He has since been brought before the competent judicial authority in Tenerife.
So far, several underage players have been identified as victims, although investigators have not ruled out the possibility that there may be more, given the man’s long-term involvement in the club’s women’s section. This was reportedly his first season acting as head coach.
The sports club has fully cooperated with the investigation and has implemented child protection protocols while offering support to the victims’ families.
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