The case of sexual abuse committed between 1998 and 2001 by Mario López, coach of the basketball team Lointek of Gernika, continues to be a teenager. About 3,000 people have met in Gernika-Lumo to report the Feminist Network case. Strongly denounces: “Today we have taken to the streets to denounce impunity and complicity: impunity, the experience of the aggressor for twenty years and the complicity shown by the sports team.”

For his part, Lointek Gernika of basketball has released a note after the demonstration on Monday. Club attorney Juan Carlos Soto del Castillo has pointed out that “never, never” have known that it was a sexual assault on a minor: “The Board of Directors has not received any complaint or complaint in this case, what Mario López sent us was a complaint of harassment.” He emphasizes that the group “rejects” López’s actions and “strengthens” the measures of protection for children and adolescents.

Soto del Castillo, on behalf of the group, apologizes for the errors in case management: “Having known the scope and content of the indictment through the media, it is clear that when the club decided to leave Mario López in internal management in the sports field, these measures were not enough.”

However, the feminist movement has denied that the club knew nothing about what happened so far. The members of the movement explain that in summer, “in order to find a solution to the situation”, the network contacted the club when they knew the case and stressed that it was informed. They did not take any action, but the change did not occur: “They told us that there was an agreement to keep us as coaches of both the Commission and the sponsors and the players, and that they would do so.” Faced with the refusal, the Feminist Network completed the process of reaching an agreement. The group dismissed López on Sunday after the situation was brought to light.