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Diane Scavuzzo
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Former Global Premier Soccer Massachusetts Coach Bogdan Botezatu Arrested for Sexual Assault
Former Global Premier Soccer (GPS) coach was arrested earlier this month and charged with multiple accounts of sexual assault with a person under the age of sixteen.
Bogdan Botezatu, 34, was arrested and charged on February 5, 2021. While specific details of the alleged sexual assaults are still forthcoming, the youth soccer coach is accused of sexually assaulting underage girls in three separate incidents in the communities of West Hillhurst, Thorncliffe, and Huntington Hills in Canada.
“Every youth sports organization needs to look in the mirror and review the processes in place to protect our children,” said Stephen Griffin, former CEO of Legacy Sports, the parent company of Global Premier Soccer.
Prior to that position, Botezatu was the Head Soccer Coach at Mass Premier Soccer/Global Premier Soccer. In 2016, Botezatu worked for GPS — MA and coached the Boys U17 team. In 2015, Botezatu coached two teams, the U11 and U18 boys.
Most sexual predators who prey on defenseless youth soccer players do not start suddenly and there is reason for concern that Botezatu possible could have assaulted players previously.
As of yet, there are no reports of Botezatu allegedly assaulting youth soccer players when he was the coach or the Director of Coaching at Global Premier Soccer.
According to our research, Dan Rhodes was the Regional Director of Coaching – Mass Premier Soccer/Global Premier Soccer but it is unclear if Botezatu reported to Rhodes or for how long. Up until the charges were filed, Botezatu was the Director of Soccer Operations with MSB United, a soccer club in north-central Calgary and a member of the Calgary Minor Soccer Association (CMSA).
Botezatu is scheduled to appear in court on March 1 and has been charged with:
- Sexual assault (three counts)
- Sexual assault with a person under 16 (two counts)
A letter posted on the club’s website on February 9, 2021 comments on the arrest of their MSB Academy Director of Soccer Operations. “We have no indication or reason to believe that his conduct has impacted any players, Academy trainers, coaches, management or any other members of MSB United. Effective immediately, Bogdan Botezatu will not be involved with the club in any capacity while this matter is being investigated.”
Read: Calgary soccer club distances itself from coach charged with sexual assault involving minors and Recent child sexual assault cases spark calls for safe sport initiatives
“If Bogdan Botezatu was brought into this country on a fraudulent visa, then those who enabled his entry into this country and his access to youth soccer players need to be accountable,” said Griffin.
Griffin was named President and CEO of Legacy in December of 2018. According to court documents, the alleged fraudulent visa scheme ended in 2018, prior to when Griffin assumed the role of CEO. However, being CEO and the experience of assisting the Department of Justice’s investigation provided Griffin with what he calls a Front Row Seat — and inspired him to write the new book the: FRONT ROW SEAT: GREED AND CORRUPTION IN A YOUTH SPORTS COMPANY (read our review). In his book, Griffin chronicles what he considers to be some of the worst activity in business:
Read: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CHARGES GLOBAL PREMIER SOCCER (GPS) ORIGINAL LEADERSHIP WITH VISA FRAUD
The Department of Justice is currently continuing its lengthly investigation into a fraudulent visa scheme in connection with Global Premier Soccer and has indicted two former GPS employees who have plead guilty to the charges.
The Former Chief Operating Officer of Global Premier Soccer, Justin Capell, of Southborough, Mass., was charged earlier this month and has plead guilty to conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
Previously, Gavin MacPhee, another former GPS employee, plead guilty to Obstruction of Justice for destroying records in connection with the Department of Justice investigation.
Read Stephen Griffin’s blog: The Ripple Effect of a So-Called Victimless Crime
Top Image: From Twitter – undated
The post FORMER GPS COACH BOGDAN BOTEZATU ARRESTED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT OF MINORS appeared first on SoccerToday.
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