A judge in Tucumán dismissed charges against Sebastián Sosa, Braian Cufré, Abiel Osorio, and José Florentín, former Vélez Sarsfield players accused of sexually abusing a journalist in a hotel in March 2024. The ruling stated that the facts do not constitute a crime, based on expert reports and reviewed evidence. The victim announced she will appeal the decision, criticizing the local justice system for failing to protect accusers.
On December 30, 2025, Judge Augusto José Paz Almonacid of the College of Criminal Judges of the Capital Judicial Center in Tucumán dismissed charges against the four former Vélez Sarsfield players involved in a sexual abuse complaint. The alleged incident took place on March 3, 2024, in a Tucumán hotel room, before a match against Atlético Tucumán. The accuser, a Tucumán journalist who had previously attempted suicide, charged Braian Cufré and José Florentín with aggravated sexual abuse with carnal access due to participation of two or more persons; Abiel Osorio with sexual abuse with carnal access as author; and Sebastián Sosa as secondary participant.
The ruling followed a hearing reviewing reports from the Scientific Investigation Team (ECIF), the victim's chats with friends, hotel security camera footage, and her subsequent behavior. The judge concluded there was insufficient evidence to proceed, noting that at 05:46 the next morning, the victim walked upright and folded a shirt belonging to one of the accused, and at 06:18 she sent Sosa an emoji of a mouse with a heart, contradicting her account. He also pointed out she knew whom she was meeting and brought alcoholic beverages.
The prosecution did not support dismissal for Cufré, Florentín, and Osorio, but did for Sosa. His defense, led by Jorge Barrera, filed the successful request. The victim, represented by lawyers Patricia Neme and Alejandro Char, expressed frustration and anger: "It is predictable that the Tucumán justice system does not protect victims." Neme stated the judge overlooked medical and biological expert reports, digital evidence, and testimonies, and they will appeal, as the dismissal is not a final innocence verdict.
Sosa, now with Juventud de las Piedras, celebrated the "decisive sentence" on social media and thanked the judge for clarifying the facts. Cufré and Florentín play for Central Córdoba, and Osorio for Defensa y Justicia. The players' girlfriends posted supportive messages online, affirming their innocence. This case highlights tensions in handling abuse allegations in Argentine football.
