Following the Benaiges case uncovered by this newspaper, Barça has sent a circular to families with footballers in the nursery and the Barça academy in which it recalls the internal channels of complaint to ensure the protection of children and explains that it will organize and promote informative talks and to listen to the players. Albert Benaiges, former coach and former coordinator of La Masia in the periods 1990-2003 and 2005-2011, had returned to the club this year, but the investigation in which more than sixty witnesses have revealed to ARA the abuses he perpetrated at the Barcelona School for more than two decades he has caused his departure from Barça, where he worked as an assistant to Alexanco in the management of the nursery. President Joan Laporta’s statements last weekend, in which he explained that if they had known the accusations against Benaiges “they would not have hired him” and condemned the facts, has now been added a circular that the Barça entity it has reached out to families and to which ARA has had access.
The letter, in addition to showing “all the support and empathy for those affected”, reaffirms Barça’s commitment “to the creation of safe and protective spaces for children and adolescents” who are part of the club. . The circular, in which it is recalled that Barça does not “have evidence” that Benaiges has perpetrated abuses during the long periods he was linked to the club, mentions that “for years now” Barça has had “internal mechanisms” to deal with “any situation of risk or vulnerability”.
In addition to mentioning the channels of complaint – such as an e-mail address available to players and families, as well as contact persons to contact – it is also explained that information sessions will be organized for families with the support of the Vicki Bernadet Foundation, which specializes in child protection, and which will promote training talks to the different teams “in order to listen to them, train them and empower them in the face of possible abusive situations”.
A specialized entity
Vicki Bernadet, the founder of the organization that bears her name and who will collaborate with Barça, was sexually abused from the age of 9 to 17 and did not reveal it until she was 34. In 1997 she created this institution. so that other victims would not have to experience the same rejection, misunderstanding, and loneliness that she experienced. Among other tasks, its foundation specializes in training professionals who work with children and adolescents with special emphasis on groups that have a high responsibility for the protection of children.
