BUENOS AIRES (AP) — In another alleged case of gender violence in Argentine soccer, Ignacio Arce, one of Club Atlético Platense’s goalkeepers, remains in custody and will be investigated by a prosecutor Wednesday after being accused of hitting his teammate.
Arce was arrested by police the day before in an apartment building in the private neighborhood of Venice, located in the Buenos Aires municipality of Tigre, where he had an argument with his girlfriend that was apparently overheard by neighbors.
Prosecutor Pablo Manteguia, head of the unit specializing in sexual violence in Tigre, near Buenos Aires, will investigate the player, who is accused of “minor injuries caused by relationships and in the context of sexual violence”, the woman officially named But not released. The offense provides for between six months and two years in prison.
The board of directors of Platense reported that it is aware of the judicial complaint and that, through its legal affairs and gender and diversity departments of the institution, the necessary elements are being gathered “to adopt decisions that are in accordance with the highest Matters can be priority and concern.
The Argentine First Division club reaffirmed its commitment to “fight against any situation of gender violence” and said it would “act accordingly.”
The alleged act of sexual violence that affected the 31-year-old player comes days after a prosecutor requested a jail term of two years and three months for Sebastian Villa, after allegedly causing minor injuries to his ex-partner in 2020. He was facing trial. Colombian football player for the popular club Boca Juniors.
The prison sentence request for Villa is for “conditional execution”, which would mean that he would effectively not serve the sentence if it were to be announced in early June. This is not the only legal matter the forward is facing, as he is also being investigated for the alleged rape of a young woman in 2021. The player did not stop playing for his club in the context of these complaints.
It is expected that Arce will regain his freedom after appearing before the prosecutor, as a fine can be issued for the crime for which he is being investigated.
Arce trained in the lower ranks of Unión de Santa Fe, where he made his first division debut. He went through Deportivo Merlo, Atlético Paraná, San Martín de Tucumán and Union La Calera de Chile, among other clubs. He arrived in Platense at the end of 2022.
