Ten hockey players from Club Alemán de Mendoza were charged with aggravated simple sexual abuse following a complaint filed by an underage teammate, according to an April 6 announcement.
The case centers on an incident that took place on April 20, 2023, during a team gathering in Guaymallén when the complainant was 16 years old. The investigation was initially closed due to lack of evidence of a crime but was later reopened after judicial review led to new charges against the players.
According to the young woman’s testimony, she was taken to a club bathroom by other players and forced to undress while experiencing what she described as humiliating situations. “I did not give consent for anything. I felt humiliated,” she said in her statement. She also claimed that she was blindfolded, filmed without permission, and threatened not to speak about the incident.
The defense representing the accused players denied the allegations and said it had been intended as a “welcome” involving jokes that were misunderstood. They pointed out that no other participants reported similar incidents.
The investigation remains ongoing with further judicial measures expected. The accused players may remain free during proceedings if they have no prior records. In addition, there is a parallel civil lawsuit against the club seeking damages amounting to millions of pesos. Club representatives said internally that the case has had significant impact and stated they have taken steps to prevent such situations from happening again.
