Colombian football rocked by allegations girls were sexually abused

BOGOTA, Colombia: A scandal is brewing in Colombian football as allegations of discrimination and sexual abuse targeting teenage girls has shocked the nation.

Colombia’s own #MeToo movement is emerging following painful testimony from a former physiotherapist who worked with one of Colombia’s national age group teams. Carolina Rozo, 38, disclosed she had fallen into depression after she was personally targeted by an alleged sexual predator, the coach of the women’s Under-17 team, Didier Luna.

In addition, she also alleged that girls on the team who she treated professionally had also been groomed by the same man. Sexism and abuse have been known to exist in Colombian football, but it took Rozo’s outspoken allegations to break the silence.

The disclosures come at a time when women’s football is experiencing a worldwide surge in popularity ahead of this year’s World Cup, to be played in France from June 7 to July 7. The charges also shine a light on a post-#MeToo world in which Colombian women feel empowered to speak out against discrimination and sexual aggression.

"It’s a very important time," said Colombian journalist Alejandro Pino, who has been documenting abuse cases. "Now we have a generation of players, especially women, who are educated and are aware that they can demand that their right be respected."

Rozo was appointed physiotherapist for the Colombian teenage squad in late 2017 as the team were preparing for that year’s women’s Under-17 World Cup in December and the South American championship the following year.

She survived just six months in the post after refusing Luna’s alleged advances. "He says to me ‘I just want you to give me a bit of your heart’, then that’s when I say ‘No, wait a moment... it’s not what I’m looking for, please respect that’," she told AFP in an interview. The rejection triggered an angry response and Luna warned her to "assume the consequences."