QUITO: The president of the Ecuador football federation has said he will take “immediate action” after a complaint of sexual harassment by one of the women’s national team against three members of the senior coaching staff writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Francisco Egas made his statement after the 19-year-old complainant registered a formal criminal complaint with the prosecutor’s office for the Pichincha region which includes the capital, Quito.

According to the player, the alleged harassment between May last year until March 16. She claimed that she had been sent provocative messages and was asked to engage in sexual activity and exchange nude photographs.

Sexual harassment is punishable by a jail term of between one and three years.

This is not the first such case to erupt this year in South America.

In February two members of the Colombian U-17 women’s team denounced Didier Luna, the former technical director, and physical trainer Sigifredo Alonso for sexual harassment between December 2017 and March 2018.

At that time the team were preparing for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Uruguay last December.

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