The Perverted Lives of the Rich and Famous > Tampa Bay Rays Shortstop investigated for CSA; World Champ Spanish Women's Soccer Team on strike

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Tampa Bay Rays place Wander Franco on leave amid allegations

of improper relationship with minor

By Mike Rosenstein, NYPost

August 14, 2023 1:19pm  Updated

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is going on the restricted list and will take a leave from the club while MLB investigates potentially concerning social media posts, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed.

The Rays released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, noting the team and Franco “have mutually agreed that he will go on the Restricted List and take leave from the Club for the duration of the current road trip.”

Shortly after the first statement, the Rays released a second one which acknowledged MLB’s investigation.

“We support any steps taken by the league to better understand the situation. Out of respect for all parties involved, we have no further comments at this time.”

Franco is also being investigated by authorities in his home country of the Dominican Republic, the attorney general’s office said in a statement.

Franco, 22, was not with his teammates on the Rays’ team plane Sunday as they headed to San Francisco, according to ESPN, for their upcoming series against the Giants, which started Monday evening.

The social media posts in question, which appear to have been deleted, reportedly emerged Sunday and alleged that Franco was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Franco started Sunday’s game in the Rays’ dugout, then left it in the fifth inning of Tampa Bay’s’ 9-2 loss to the Guardians.

In an inopportune twist, the matinee at Tropicana Field was Wander Franco snapback hats for fans 14 and under.

After the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash sidestepped questions about Franco’s status.

Spain Women's football team refuse to play until boss is fired

over kissing scandal

Spanish Women’s World Cup winning midfielder Jenni Hermoso said she did not

consent to being kissed by the country’s federation chief Luis Rubiales, after he

refused to resign Friday following worldwide outcry over the incident.

Modified: 25/08/2023 - 20:43; 2 min

By: NEWS WIRES

RFEF President Luis Rubiales delivers a speech during a general assembly of the federation in Las Rozas de Madrid on August 25, 2023. © Eidan Rubio, AFP

In a statement released by women players’ union Futpro, Hermoso and 80 other players said they would not accept an international call-up “if the current leadership continues” at the Spanish football federation.

Rubiales, 46, said in a defiant speech at an emergency RFEF meeting that his kiss on Hermoso’s lips was “mutual, euphoric and consensual” and that she had said “OK” when he asked her if he could give her “a peck”.

He also asserted that “she was the one who lifted me in her arms and brought me close to her body”.

However Hermoso hit back strongly against his claims later Friday.

“I want to clarify that at no time did I consent to the kiss that he gave me and in no case did I seek to lift up the president,” Hermoso said in the Futpro statement.

“I do not tolerate my word being questioned and much less that they invent words that I did not say.”

Futpro said in the statement that every player signing it, which included the 23 World Cup winners, were taking a stand.

“We want to finish this statement asking for real structural changes, that help the national team to keep growing, to be able transfer this great success to later generations,” it read.

“It fills us with sadness that such an unacceptable event is succeeding in tarnishing the greatest sporting success of Spanish women’s football.

“After all that happened during the medal ceremony at the Women’s World Cup, we wish to declare that all the players signing this document will not return to a national team squad if the current leadership continues.”

Before the World Cup 15 players had taken a similar stance against the federation but many relented and three were part of the team’s triumph in Australia and New Zealand.

Many players, including double Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, had written messages of support for Hermoso on social media, some including the phrase "it’s over" – potentially referring to Rubiales’ leadership of Spanish football.

(AFP)

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