[Korazym.org/Blog dell’Editore, 29.10.2024 – Ivo Pincara] – As reported in the Roman edition of Corriere della Serathe Public Prosecutor’s Office was supposed to open a new investigation into the alleged mistreatment of basketball athletes aged fifteen to seventeen. The investigation started from the complaints of the youth, following the legal case, which led to the arrest of the former Stella Azzurra basketball coach Paolo Traino (cover photo), sentenced to seven years for sexual assault. We have reported the case several times.
Towing/Stella Azzurra case. Former coach sentenced. Contribution of guilt for the Roman basketball club – 16 May 2024
This is another horror story. The former coach of the Stella Azzurra Roma basketball club, 55-year-old Paolo Traino, defended by the lawyer Marco Bisogni, is accused of forcing one of his thirteen-year-old students to suffer sexual abuse. Now he received a first degree sentence of seven years and six months in prison. Traino got the job of coaching the boys at Stella Azzurra Roma in 2017. That year he met the one who would become his young victim. Only on 17 July 2023 he was removed from the Italian Basketball Federation, after the third case in the judicial news about cases of child abuse, involving Traino, although he was allowed to continue to have close contact for many years at a very young age. children.
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Stella Azzurra Roma coach expelled from Federbasket, on child abuse charges – 19 July 2023
The Federbasket Court issued the sentence on 17 July 2023: Paolo Traino, arrested in February on charges of sexual violence against minors, already convicted in 2018 for similar facts in Perugia, was dismissed and can no longer coach. Waiting for the decision of the Federbasket Court on four more managers of the Stella Azzurra Roma basketball club, under the watchful eye of the prosecutor’s office in Rome.
++++ UPDATE ++++ Blue Star. Federal Court Decisions – 20 July 2023
The Federal Court, in the current session, applied:
– to Mr. Germano D’Arcangeli registered for the company Stella Azzurra srl the prohibition provision for 4 years until 20 July 2027;
– to Ms Monica Grani as President of the Stella Azzurra Roma Nord company (051317) the prohibition order for 2 years until 20 July 2025;
– to Mr. Daniele Camponeschi as President of the Stella Azzurra Basket Academy company the ban is for 1 year until 20 July 2024;
– to Mr. Fabio De Mita as President of the company Stella Azzurra srl
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Stella Azzurra basketball coach in Rome arrested on child abuse charges – 9 February 2023
«Free to play, free to participate, free to build your own path in the world of basketball. A revolution: you can participate in training sessions and matches followed by the staff of Stella Azzurra, in the beautiful facility on Via Flaminia. A unique experience, where everyone has the freedom to develop what they want, personalize their experience thanks to the many opportunities offered by Stella Nation Enter the Community today, click and book your place on the pitch . Stella Nation IS EASY TO PLAY.” That’s why we read the Stellanation.it website of the amateur sports club Stella Azzurra Basketball Academy on Via Flaminia in Rome.
Then, yesterday morning, February 8, 2023, the world of Italian basketball woke up shocked by the news of child abuse that allegedly happened at Blue Star. We know the facts from the newspapers, with the details of the scandal, which hit the coach – described as a point of reference for minor basketball players – and the Capital club.
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Il Corriere della Sera reports that the new alleged abuses came to light from the story of an insider in the world of basketball, who used to be at Blue Star. Investigators are working on a case of sexual violence, which began in 2018. The victim was a boy, fifteen years old at the time. The witness described how the athletes were punished, including preventing them from eating. In addition, according to the witness, the coach encouraged the youths to rob a supermarket.
This is another line of investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office related to Stella Azzurra, but which will also involve the Italian Basketball Federation, because it did not prevent Traino from continuing to teach the boys, despite his previous criminal record conviction. Traino continues his work, after the first final two-year sentence in Perugia in December 2022 for sexual violence against minors. The position of Germano D’Arcangeli, who was accused of aiding and abetting because according to the indictment, he helped Traino escape from the investigation, is being re-examined. D’Arcangeli is still coaching today, despite receiving two disciplinary sanctions.
Stella Azzurra basketball Roma, child basketball players abused and raped: the second investigation begins
FIP check. The prosecutor wanted to ascertain how it was possible that the coaches, including Paolo Traino, continued to coach despite the convictions.
by Giulio De Santis
Corriere della Sera, 26 October 2024
The earthquake caused by the arrest of Paolo Traino, former basketball coach of Stella Azzurra, sentenced to seven years for violence against a teenage basketball player, again threatens the foundation of the historic basketball club. The Prosecutor’s Office has opened a new investigation into (alleged) mistreatment suffered by aspiring basketball players between the ages of 15 and 17. Investigators are also looking into a case of sexual violence that occurred five years ago. The turning point is set in the story of an insider in the world of basketball who has a past within the company.
The super witness, considered reliable, pointed out that he was determined to report his experience after Traino’s conviction, because he now felt that he was protected by the Prosecutor’s Office. He then reported how the youth were often punished, even depriving them of food. Even a coach, who is still active, can encourage members to steal from the supermarket. The “deep throat” also said that he was an indirect witness of a sexual attack: the victim was a 15-year-old.
The Federation investigation
Then there is another line of investigation related to Stella Azzurra, but also involving the FIP (Italian Basketball Federation). The Prosecutor’s Office seeks to determine how it is possible that Traino is coaching even after the first definitive two-year sentence in December 2022 for sexual violence against minors when he was a coach in Perugia . In this case, those in the FIP with the task of preventing a member with a criminal record related to sex crimes against minors from teaching may fall into the crosshairs.
The Prosecutor’s Office will also examine how it was possible for Germano D’Arcangeli, who was accused of aiding and abetting as he helped Traino evade investigations, from coaching even though the two disciplinary convictions forbade him to do so. The coach’s claim, defended by lawyer Filippo Valle, that he was still active forced the Gup not to allow him to put D’Arcangeli on trial. In this case as well, the Prosecutor’s Office intends to analyze more deeply the role of the FIP. In the proceedings against D’Arcangeli Stella Azzurra, assisted by lawyer Valeria Logrillo, became a civil party.
The FIP and the Traino case: is something rotten in Denmark? We need clarity and now
by Umberto De Santis
Planet Basketball, 26 October 2024
At the beginning of February 2023, news came that a Stella Azzurra Roma basketball coach had been arrested on charges of child abuse. The activity does not seem to interest the management of the FIP: President Petrucci simply says that he will gather the elements to get a position, but later he is careful not to say a word in public about topic. Yet this is a serious reality, which undermines the relationship of trust that must exist between coaches and children, federations and clubs.
In carrying out our little investigation, we wondered how it is possible that such a gentleman, who has been sanctioned since 2000 for false problems and sentenced in Perugia for a previous abuse, was able to work as a coach until his arrest in 2023, returning from an international. tournament, in this article entitled “Child abuse: where is the flaw in the FIP and CONI control system?” As always happens, our questions are not answered, and in our opinion silence always means negativity.
We know how it ended: faced with the evidence, the Federal Court disbarred the coach and imposed severe penalties on the club he belongs to and its top managers. The court condemned Mr. Paolo Traino for the indifference of via Vitorchiano, so we titled the article reporting the news as follows: “Sexual harassment: coach sentenced in Rome to federal silence”. In addition, our request to FIP and CONI to clarify the control systems for the recruitment of teachers was not considered. Maybe Petrucci and Malagò are too busy running for re-election to risk being embroiled in a dirty story? (…)
An article in the Roman edition of the Corriere della Sera may convey the indifference of the rest of Italy, who may not have realized it. But from now on we can no longer hide from ignorance: the presidents of the regional committees must raise their voices, ask for appropriate and convincing explanations and so do the athletes, coaches and parents must be company partner. However, this investigation has a big impact, it is a sword of Damocles in the re-election chances of an outgoing president who never hides his affiliation and origin from the Blue Star world: known it’s all the same, though. those who find it easyto pretend not to know.