Argentine Superliga club Independiente has "become embroiled in a high-profile child prostitution scandal after it emerged that a player was recruiting youth footballers to have sex with men for money," according to GOAL. The identity of the player has not been revealed, "but it is known that the accused is 19 years old and was living in team-owned accommodation while he recovered from an injury." Independiente "became aware of the situation when one of the abused children broke down in front of an employee and revealed a string of alleged abuses" over the last four months. The accused "is said to have led at least five boys, also living in the accommodation and aged between 15 and 16, into a prostitution ring with men in the Palermo area of Buenos Aires." The case has been categorized as "child abuse and facilitation of abuse" and there is "also believed to be a referee of the youth ranks named in the scandal." The accused player has already been released by Independiente, which released a statement on the matter on Thursday. The statement said, "As a consequence of the facts that are public knowledge, Club Atlético Independiente wishes to communicate that it has made the corresponding report and has put everything at the justice system's disposal so that it can act accordingly. Of course, we regret this kind of behavior that implicates the club in such delicate matters and we will do everything we can to solve it" (GOAL, 3/22). The DPA reported there were reports in Argentina that "as many as 20 youth footballers earned money by prostituting themselves to older men" (DPA, 3/22). LOS ANDES reported Argentine newspaper Olé's cover, referring to the Independiente case, said in red letters on a black backdrop, "Que se pudran en el infierno" ("May they rot in hell") (LOS ANDES, 3/22).
