fifa has showed its ethics committee is investigating allegations of sexual abuse and harassment made towards one of its refereeing teachers and the colombian soccer federation’s head of referees.
Óscar julián ruiz, a colombian who officiated at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 international cups and has worked as a fifa teacher when you consider that june 2011, has been accused of sexual harassment by way of 11 alleged victims and more than 30 witnesses. imer machado – the director of the fcf’s referees fee – is likewise facing claims of sexual abuse and harassment from 14 alleged sufferers and witnesses.
ruiz, who has strenuously denied the accusations, changed into investigated in 2019 by way of the colombian government after dealing with claims he raped a minor and sexually stressed 3 fellow referees. that case became “archived” after a judge ruled there was no longer sufficient evidence towards him. but, an in depth new application for it to be reviewed that has been seen by way of the parent changed into sent by means of lawyers on behalf of one of the officials, harold perilla, on 7 march. it alleges ruiz sexually abused and careworn numerous more referees and some declare he also forced others to have intercourse with him so as for them to acquire promoting.
machado, some other former international referee, has additionally been accused of sexual abuse and harassment, such as claims that he touched every other reliable’s penis and testicles in front of different human beings. it’s miles understood that colombia’s lawyer preferred is thinking about whether or not to check the case in mild of the brand new proof.
“we’ve got taken observe of the records supplied for your enquiry and may affirm that the independent fifa ethics committee is currently searching into the problem,” stated a fifa ethics spokesperson. “please recognize that no in addition comment may be made at this level.”
the software information claims from perilla, carlos chavez and julian mejia that ruiz repeatedly sexually stressed them for the duration of their careers in addition to several new allegations, along with that he had sex with a male referee who was simplest thirteen on the time. “the statistics and evidence display the pattern of sexual harassment behaviour via ruiz closer to colombian expert football referees over several years,” it alleges.
“Óscar julián ruiz isn’t the most effective one,” perilla advised the father or mother. “we additionally have machado, the director of the referees commission and former worldwide referee. he tried with me too, i filed a criticism and that i’m no longer the only one. ruiz touched my penis throughout a preseason. he asked me to have intercourse with him. that’s how i ought to get promoted. machado also touched my penis and even my testicles in front of other human beings. that’s why i filed the grievance as it’s the identical approach. in colombia, lamentably, maximum of the humans have to provide intercourse to grow to be an international referee.”
ruiz said that “not one of the information are regular with fact”, adding: “i lasted sixteen years as an global referee and turned into by no means investigated. i have finished greater than 200 global sports, tournaments, guides, seminars with referee teachers from around the arena and i’ve in no way been accused.”
the fcf did not reply to a request to touch upon the claims towards machado.