Hunger, neglect, sexual abuse: Inside Argentina's ...
Key takeaways
- Inside, a makeshift pub served fans of the local fútbol club before they filed into the stadium down the street.
- When they got inside, the house was dark and quiet, the morning light filtered by newspaper taped over the windows.
- ESPN followed one boy's journey through Argentina's professional soccer system, uncovering widespread exploitation and abuse.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Teenage boys came and went. Inside, a makeshift pub served fans of the local fútbol club before they filed into the stadium down the street. The house had orange and black stripes, tiny security cameras that twitched like eyes, and, over the entrance, a colorful mural of palm trees and late-model trucks.
One day a neighbor informed authorities that the house was filled with children living in "inhumane conditions." Police set up a raid, bringing along a small army of social workers, psychologists, city inspectors and medics. When they got inside, the house was dark and quiet, the morning light filtered by newspaper taped over the windows. The rooms smelled of moldering laundry, teenagers and cleats.
ESPN followed one boy's journey through Argentina's professional soccer system, uncovering widespread exploitation and abuse. Available June 26 on ESPN.