Ice hockey: Rouen coach sacked after conviction for sexual assault on minors

Here is a new case of sexual violence in the field of ice sports.

After the revelations last year of the former French skater Sarah Abitbol who had accused her former coach Gilles Beyer of rape, a new case broke out, in the world of ice hockey this time.

One of the assistant coaches (who also occupies the function of manager), of Rouen Elite Hockey (RHE), reigning French champion, was dismissed on Tuesday by the Norman club after his conviction at the end of April for sexual assault on minors , prior to his hiring at RHE.

“Informed a few days ago of the judicial conviction of one of its employees for facts prior to his hiring and after having become aware of its seriousness, the Rouen Elite Hockey, faithful to its values ​​to pronounce the dismissal for serious misconduct of Mr. Farrugia, ”the club said in a statement.

To read also "I did not know how to resist": The heavy secrets of Gilles Beyer, accused of rape by the former star of skating Sarah Abitbol

Romain Farrugia was sentenced on April 30 at the Chambéry Criminal Court for "sexual assault on two minors by a person abusing the authority conferred on him by his position". Facts committed in Savoy from January 1 to March 1, 2015 for the first victim and from August 1 to 31 for the second. He was sentenced to 18 months suspended imprisonment, a ban on training and supervising minors for five years, and the obligation to pay 1,500 euros in damages to the main victim. It is also automatically entered in the judicial file of perpetrators of sexual offenses.