A former physiotherapist at Barcelona has been sentenced to four years in prison for sexually assaulting another employee at the Catalan club while she was at work. According to the newspaper "Sport," the unnamed employee had been with the club for 30 years, initially as a coordinator before becoming a doctor, and eventually was assigned to the first team as well. The incidents occurred in 2016.
The doctor attempted to convince the victim to undergo physiotherapy to treat neck and head pain; however, during the third session, he tried to initiate harassment and failed. In the fourth session, he assaulted her again without the victim's consent, as proven in court. The victim suffered a severe anxiety attack at the time and was forced to take a two-month leave due to the mental health issues caused by the incident.
The judge rejected various arguments presented by the defense claiming the allegations were false and that the procedures taken were medically justified. The defendant was ultimately sentenced to four years in prison, prohibited from practicing his profession for two years, and ordered to pay 10,000 euros in compensation to the victim, with Barcelona being held responsible for the damages caused to her.
Recently, Barcelona has been linked to a high-profile sexual assault case involving Dani Alves at the famous "Sutton" club in the Catalan city. This incident appears to be part of a lengthy legacy of shameful and controversial occurrences that have taken place at Barcelona during the tenure of its former president, Josep Maria Bartomeu.
