Despite arguing that it is still early to give an opinion on the case of the Riba d’Ave football academy, which was subject to raids on suspicion of human trafficking, the national rapporteur on human trafficking, Manuel Albano, regrets that It is a scenario lived all over the world and that there are always those who want to make money with football, even in the lower categories, facing people as “merchandise”.
Speaking to TSFManuel Albano points out that what is “behind” this situation is a “business” in which someone “wants to take advantage of another’s fragility or another’s dream.”
After pointing out that he does not rule on the specific case of Riba d’Ave, which is under judicial secrecy and following the usual procedures “to understand exactly what happened”, he points out that “a deception may be at stake in which, at First of all, deceived parents”.
This Tuesday, RTP Previews that the parents of the youngsters were promised, by BSports, academic and sports training and the promise that their children would play in the professional category of Portuguese football.
In the case of a young Colombian, his parents agreed in writing to pay 6,600 euros in 11 months -600 per month- to attend the gym. If they wanted to withdraw, they would have to pay the entire agreed amount and send a written exit authorization to the academy, accompanied by a plane ticket to the young man’s country of origin.
The prices to attend the academy run by the president of the General Assembly (AG) of the Portuguese Professional Football League (LPFP), Mário Costa, vary between 600 and 2,000 euros per month.
People seen “as merchandise”
In view of the data provided by public television, Manuel Albano identifies a “deceit to parents, promising them something that their children would have, and that later does not materialize. On the contrary, it can materialize in practices that can effectively shape the practice of trafficking in human beings.”
The case never ceases to amaze anyone who works closely with human trafficking episodes, not least because it constitutes “elementary violations of fundamental human rights, the right to be, the right to individuality, and the right of people to live.” free in a democratic environment. State and in a society that defends human rights, be it in Portugal or in the world”.
Even so, this is not “exclusive to Portugal, it happens all over the world, unfortunately”, because there are those who see “other people as merchandise and not as people and not as human beings, but as if they were any object”. that we can sell, exchange, appropriate and curtail all capacity for individuality”.
Above all, Manuel Albano points out, the surprise is necessary because “we do not accept or normalize this type of situation. I think we should all have this indignation,” he appeals. In this case, praise is due for the way in which the different authorities proceeded.
“All the people were immediately worked on, finalized, with an intervention of the multidisciplinary teams that exist in the country for trafficking in human beings” and that “immediately sought accommodation” for all the minors “in coordination also with the commissions for the protection of children and youth at risk.
All the minors were welcomed, as well as “the adults who understood it”, guaranteeing Manuel Albano that they are “protected and with the guarantee of all the necessary security for their emotional, psychological, physical stabilization, whatever is necessary”. .
From here, and with that certainty, he points out, Justice will have “the ability to do its job to the best of its ability, listening to these people, but no longer in a crisis situation.”
Portugal makes its way alongside the world
The objective of the rapid intervention of other teams was to avoid “this exclusive police reading from the first moment”, guaranteeing the necessary support and comfort: “That is what we have been doing and there is this positive evolution, these advances in the inter-institutional”. confidence that allow effective, interdisciplinary and coordinated action in a situation like this”.
The work carried out by Portugal in this area has been “good”, the national speaker assesses, “in the way of preventing, combating, protecting the victims and sentencing those who commit the crime”, which is “complex from the point of view juridical and judicial”. view”.
The crime of trafficking in human beings was only included in the national legal system in 2007 and Portugal has been “making a journey, like all countries”, and it is also with these that it faces one of the difficulties of the fight: the low conviction rate.
“It is not exclusive to Portugal or any other country, due to its difficulty in the means of proof. Now, I believe that indeed, in this interdisciplinary and interinstitutional articulation, a good path and a good advance have been made ”, he affirmed. he concludes.
This Tuesday, the president of the AG of the League said that he was confident that it would be confirmed that he had not committed “any criminal offense” after his residence was subject to searches.
“Following the news broadcast today in the media, I would like to clarify that in the framework of the ongoing investigations, I have provided full collaboration to the competent authorities, having also expressed my total availability to provide any clarifications that are necessary,” says the note signed by Mário Costa.
“I also inform that I calmly await the investigations, confident and confident that the truth of the facts will be known, which will reveal that no crime was committed,” concludes the document sent to the newsrooms.
Source: TSF
