The scandal shaking Argentine women’s football has reached a new level of severity: eight players have now accused former coach Diego Guacci of abuse and sexual harassment. The controversy, which has been under investigation since 2021, gained overwhelming public attention after three new allegations were revealed in the Argentine National Senate during the event “A Voice in the First Person: The Players Speak.”
The shocking revelations presented in the Senate leave no doubt about the climate of intimidation and psychological violence that the athletes were forced to endure. Players and sports journalists reported incidents of sexual harassment, threats, and systematic humiliation perpetrated by Guacci and his wife, who, in response, sought legal action against the victims in a clear attempt to silence the allegations and perpetuate the abuse.
Aldana Videla Quintana, a footballer from Platense, reported a cruel persecution related to her sexual orientation. “He harassed me because of my sexuality; at every training session, he repeated that my performance depended on whether or not I was with my partner. He made me understand that to be on the national team, I had to have the same ovaries I had to publicly demonstrate my sexuality, as if being a lesbian was bad. He would make me shower alone, away from the team, in a giant locker room where I was afraid something would happen to me,” she revealed in emotional statements.
Another devastating testimony came from Florencia Mercau, a player for Morón, whose words were read by lawyer Andrea Lucangioli. Florencia described extreme pressures and blackmail from Guacci: “When I arrived at River, I was 20 years old. Diego Guacci harassed me, asked me for nude photos, and if I didn’t send them, I wouldn’t play. He told me that if I said anything, he would hunt me down to kill me. I had to leave that club I love so much out of fear.” The lawyer added that Mercau did not attend in person due to the paralyzing fear she suffers from and revealed that the player faced a suicide attempt, still not fully recovering from the trauma inflicted by the coach.
Equatorial international Mabel Velarde also added her voice to the chorus of allegations: “I decided to speak out after eleven years, I do it for the girls, for the new generations, for women. It is very important that there are processes of reparation, restorative processes, and that those who transgress boundaries can take responsibility for their actions.”
The original allegations, presented in 2021 through the global footballers’ union (FIFPRO), contained cruel expressions that attest to the toxic and abusive environment created by Guacci, such as “You are capable of letting yourself be violated to reach the National Team,” “You are a failure. You are horrible, fat,” and explicit threats of sexual violence.
A disturbing detail is that, according to lawyer Lucangioli, despite the identities of the complainants not being included in the official proceedings, Guacci managed to discover who they were and publicly exposed their identities, further aggravating the situation for the victims. In addition, he and his wife initiated legal proceedings against four of the players, in a clear attempt to intimidate and silence the voices demanding justice and accountability.
This case not only exposes the darkest side of Argentine women’s football but also raises a global alarm about the abuse of power and the culture of silence that still prevails in many sports. The fight of these eight women is a crucial step towards transforming the system and an urgent call to FIFA and the relevant authorities to take strong and immediate action against harassment and sexual abuse in sports. Silence is no longer an option – it is time for justice and change.
This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).
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