![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
The coaching crew of the Spanish women’s national team has all resigned in the face of the scandal surrounding Luis Rubiales.
Rubiales, the President of the Spanish FA, kissed Jenni Hermoso during the side’s World Cup celebrations. He has subsequently been banned by FIFA, with the tournament-winning coaching team all deciding to walk out. Head coach Jorge Vilda remains in situ, however.
A statement announcing their resignation, which was signed by members of the coaching crew, which include Javier Lerga, Eugenio Gonzalo, Blanca Romero, Carlos Sanchez, Ruben Jimenez, Sonia Bermudez, Javier Velazquez, Javier Egido, Ander Ruiz, Elena Fernandez, and Montse Tome, was made public on Saturday.
The statement reads, “As a result of the events that occurred after the final of the Women’s Soccer World Cup, part of the Women’s Soccer Team wants to make its position public.
“The undersigned express their firmest and most emphatic condemnation of the conduct shown by the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Manuel Rubiales Béjar, with the player of the National Women’s Soccer Team, Jennifer Hermoso.
“After the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which took place on August 25, 2023, in which the president of the RFEF did not present his resignation and in which he offered a story that does not reflect in any way any of the feelings of the aforementioned player, who has expressly stated that she felt “victim of aggression”, this part of the Technical Staff supports the player Jennifer Hermoso, endorsing the version offered by her.
“Adding the inconvenience of having to necessarily attend the aforementioned assembly on August 25, in which, in addition, there was a particularly hurtful event for this coaching staff, since several of the female members of the coaching staff were forced to wear in the front row, exposing their image and trying to make society and players understand
“For all these reasons, the undersigned, in light of the unacceptable attitudes and statements made by the top leader of the RFEF, have made the decision to place their positions at the disposal of the RFEF.
“This part of the Technical Team shows its support for the statement published by the players of the Women’s National Soccer Team, in reference to said actions and statements made by the president of the RFEF, and more specifically to the public statements made by the player Jenni Hermoso.
“The undersigned want to end this statement by accepting the part of responsibility that falls to us regarding the restructuring and professionalization of the Women’s Team, a task for which we have always worked with the greatest motivation and professionalism.”
FIFA, in a statement released on Saturday, ordered the suspension of Rubiales from all football-related activities. The Spanish women’s side has also confirmed that they will not represent the county while Rubiales remains in his position.
