‘Baptisms’ in football: the gymnastics team had to go out to clarify a complaint for alleged abuse

A month ago, half of the city of La Plata had the theme installed. Mauro Bosellione of the most experienced players of students of La Plata, unveiled the decision taken together with the representatives regarding the usual ‘baptisms’ for those making their debut in the First Division. In recent days, the debate has reappeared on the basis of versions that have grown up on social networks and which have forced the campus to Gymnastics and Fencing La Plata make a statement this Thursday at clarify various allegations about alleged abuses in these rituals.

“Players of the First Division Men’s Team of La Plata Fencing and Gymnastics Club inform members, fans and the general public that statements circulating regarding an alleged ‘sexual abuse’ during the 2021 Preseason are false”began the letter that was published at the same time by the players of the team led by Sebastián Romero and who lost the three games played in the Professional League.

In this sense, they also expressed “dissatisfaction and concern” with the version that grew up on social media and stressed that the Uruguayan Brahian Aleman, captain of the previous trial and currently in Banfield, conducted those rituals that allegedly included physical and even sexual abuse. “We respect and support the current institutional policy which prohibits any type of ‘baptism’, ‘ritual’ or ‘rite of passage’ involving the use of physical force and we express our rejection of any form of violence in sport”they completed.

“Together with the Technical Staff, the Board of Directors and all Tripero and Tripera we will continue united, working to make Gymnastics ever bigger”they closed.

The president of the club, Mariano Cowen, expressed himself in the same sense. “Shots, covering someone with a sheet as was done in the dove. In case something like this happened, I do not know, obviously we will make ourselves available to Justice. We will install a code of ethics,” said Cowen, who took charge of the club a few months ago.

The ‘Ninja’ and a punishment as an antecedent

Last weekend, Aleman’s confrontation with his former gymnastics teammates led to a tough offense against the Uruguayan and reopened the ‘baptisms’ debate, since expelled player Ignacio Miramón was one of those which at the time He was listed as a victim.

as far as he could tell clarionthe action it had nothing to do with some kind of revengebut it was a common game action of a high-intensity game and by the Lega Professionisti.

One of the episodes that has been tacitly “whitewashed” occurred in June 2021. At that time, Aleman and Matías Pérez García -currently in Ecuador- were separated from the professional team for several weeks for causing physical damage and internal discomfort that reached the management, at the time led by Gabriel Pellegrino.

What emerged is that these two footballers were part of a larger group that called itself “Los Ninjas”, and was preparing baptisms for young players who reached the First Division for the first time, mainly in the preseason. They entered the rooms, beat them, wrapped them in sheets and even stripped them naked to leave them tied to trees. from the Estancia Chica property, where they carry out their practices every day.

A month ago, it was Boselli who spoke about these situations and he revealed that together with the ‘Pincha’ captain Mariano Andújar they banned these practices as group leaders.

“We don’t want to make a guy who’s doing his first pre-season feel bad and he likes to have long hair. We recently spoke to Mariano (Andújar), there’s no point in making fun of them. As long as we’re around, it won’t happen.”commented the striker, of a long journey in football abroad.