New York FC investigates allegations of sexual harassment against David Villa

–

France Media Agency

“The New York City Football Club has learned of the allegations of a former intern when she saw them on social networks,” the club said in a statement. “We take this issue extremely seriously and do not tolerate harassment of any kind in any area of ​​our club. We immediately opened an investigation into the matter. ”

Calling himself Skyler B on Twitter, the accuser denounced last week the alleged behavior of Villa, world champion with Spain in 2010, when he was playing in the NYCFC, between 2015 and 2018.

“I thought I had the opportunity of a lifetime when I got this internship. What I got was David Villa touching me every fucking day and my bosses thought it was a great comedic spring. Women brave enough to tell their stories out loud are my heroines. One day, ”she wrote.

“The harassment I suffered at NYCFC was so severe that now the idea of ​​professional sport terrifies me. Staying in the athletic environment terrifies me. I change careers because the crap they did to me ruined my dreams, ”she added.

The former scorer of Valencia CF and FC Barcelona, ​​defended himself from any inappropriate behavior. “I strongly oppose the accusations leveled against me on Twitter. These accusations are entirely false and I refute them, ”he said in a statement Wednesday.

“It is difficult to understand why it has not been raised before if someone felt uncomfortable at all times,” continued Villa, 38, assuring that he had never heard of the “vague accusations” of the alleged victim during his time at the club.

Villa, who also won Euro-2008 with La Roja where he is the top scorer in history (59) and the Champions League with Barça in 2011, joined the NYCFC in 2015. In four seasons no title won, if not the individual best player in the league 2016. After a final season with the Japanese team Vissel Kobe, he retired last year.

–