Central Coast Mariners player Angel Torres charged with sexual assault

An A-League player has been charged with rape after returning to NSW with his team following an AFC Cup game.

Central Coast Mariners midfielder Angel Torres was charged with rape, assault and stalking after his arrest. The Colombian import has since been released on bail.

“Following an investigation into an alleged sexual assault against a 21-year-old woman on Sunday 24 March 2024, a 24-year-old man was arrested at a Terrigal property yesterday (Monday 22 April 2024),” NSW police said in a statement. “He was taken to Gosford Police Station where he was charged with two counts of common assault, intimidation, and aggravated sexual intercourse without consent. “He will appear before Gosford Local Court on May 6.”

It remains unclear if Torres will be free to play before he faces court.

The Colombian joined the Mariners at the start of the A-League Men season and has netted 13 goals in 23 games.

“Given the alleged serious criminal offences with which Torres has been charged, Football Australia immediately imposed a no-fault suspension,” the Mariners said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The suspension is a precautionary measure that suspends the player from participating in football and club related activities.

“It is important to note that Football Australia in imposing this interim suspension is making no finding of guilt or fault in respect of the offences with which Torres has been charged.

“Such charges remain matters to be determined by the Courts of NSW.”

The A-League’s administrative body, the Australian Professional Leagues, has been contacted for comment.

Torres arrived to Central Coast Mariners as an unknown quantity, being plucked from the Maltese Premier League during the off-season.

The Colombian winger had been lighting up the A-League season and was in with a shout to win the Johnny Warren Medal for the league’s best player. The 24-year-old has scored 15 goals and assisted 7 across the A-League and continental AFC Cup.

Torres had become a talisman for the Gosford-based side, with him stepping up following the transfer of Marco Tulio in January to Kyoto Sanga.

He had previously been rumoured to be departing Australia at the end of the season in June when his contract expires, with speculation from a player agent suggesting clubs from up to fifteen countries had made offers.

Torres’ Gosford-based team is on the hunt for a historic treble after travelling to Kyrgyzstan for the first leg of the inter-zone playoff final against Krygyz club Abdysh-Ata Kant.

The team was stranded in the country for 48 hours after flooding hit Dubai airport.

The Mariners’ delayed return to Australia has, however, had a flow-on effect and dampened hopes of a grand-stand finish to the regular ALM season.

Central Coast and Wellington have been fighting it out all year to finish first, but the Mariners will now have the upper hand, with their potentially decisive fixture against Adelaide falling after the Phoenix’s last game.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028