The team New York City FC from MLS opened an investigation after a former worker denounced on social networks having suffered sexual harassment by club members, including former soccer player David Villa, who played there between 2015 and 2018. Before the accusations, the 38-year-old Spaniard decided to issue a statement to deny the facts and point out that the indications are “completely false”.
It all started on July 17 when the woman, who uniquely identifies as “Skyler B” made a strong complaint through her Twitter account. “The harassment I suffered at the NYCFC was so bad that now the idea of professional sports terrifies me. Staying on the sports field terrifies me. I am changing my entire career because what they did to me ruined my dreams,” he wrote in one of the messages. “I thought I was having the opportunity of a lifetime by getting that internship. What I got was that David Villa played me every day and my bosses thought it was great comic material. Women brave enough to tell their stories out loud are my heroes. Someday”.
I thought I was getting the opportunity of a life time when I got that internship. What I got was David Villa touching me every fucking day and my bosses thinking it was great comedic material. Women brave enough to tell their stories this loudly are my heroes. Someday.&- Skyler B (@ItsmeskylerB)
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In addition, in other tweets that he was writing in recent days, he added: “I still find it funny that I was constantly told that I had a terrible attitude at that job, like I didn’t show up every day knowing I was going to be groped, teased, or that both hands would be pushed behind my back. Of course he had a bad attitude! And if someone mentioned my name to David Villa, they wouldn’t know who I am. He never called me by name. Seldom did a day go by without him grabbing or verbally harassing me, but he never bothered to learn my name. “
I thought I was having the opportunity of a lifetime by getting that internship. What I got was that David Villa touched me every day
Skyler B, the woman who denounced David Villa
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Following the explosion of the allegations, which quickly went viral, the club decided to open an investigation into the case. “The New York City Football Club (NYCFC) has learned of the allegations made by an expat by viewing them on social media,” the franchise for the American football league (MLS) said in a statement released Wednesday. “We take this matter extremely seriously and do not tolerate any form of harassment in any area of our organization. We immediately launched an investigation into the matter,” the team said.
Villa denies it: “The accusations are completely false”
In a statement sent by his agent to ESPN, Villa flatly rejected these allegations. “I strongly oppose the allegations made about me on Twitter. These allegations are completely false and I deny them,” said the former figure of FC Barcelona and the Spanish team.
Villa, 38, said he never knew of these “vague allegations” until they were published last week and pledged to “cooperate fully” with the institution by asking that his presumption of innocence be respected. In addition, he noted that his legal team “works to clarify these false accusations” and asked people and the media to respect their “right to the presumption of innocence”.
It is unfortunate for those who have suffered harassment that other people take advantage of it as an excuse to make false accusations
David Villa
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“I have not received any communication on this subject before the publication on social networks, neither by this person nor by New York City FC. I understand, from what I have read on Twitter, that she was a fellow and that she left the club to End of 2019, a year after I left. I have never heard of these allegations from the club or any other source until they were published. Of course, I will cooperate fully with NYC FC because their allegations are also directed at the club. ” , stressed the former soccer player.
“I played four seasons in New York City and I always felt loved and respected by everyone inside and outside the Club. Therefore, it is difficult to understand why these false accusations arise when I left New York City in December 2018 , more than a year and a half ago. I repeat that these accusations are totally false, “added Villa. “Harassment is a serious problem for society. It is very unfortunate for those who have experienced harassment that other people use it as an excuse to make false accusations.”
The striker was a key part of the Spanish team to win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and Barcelona to conquer the 2011 UEFA Champions League. After his departure from the Barça team, and a brief stint at Atlético de Madrid and Melbourne City in Australia, Villa joined the NYCFC in the 2015 franchise debut season of this franchise in 2015 and won the league MVP award a year later. Although he retired in 2019 in the ranks of the Japanese Vissel Kobe, he remains linked to New York City, as he is one of the founders of the local Queensboro City team, which will join the USL Championship league in 2022.
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