A FORMER EFL defender has been banned from football for four years after sexually assaulting two women.
Danny Senda, 42, was on a coaching course abroad with the women last June when the incidents of inappropriate touching took place in a bar.
It is understood he was already in the bar when the pair arrived together with a few other people.
The first complainant accused Senda – who spent most of his professional playing career at Wycombe – of pulling her towards him.
He then put one arm over her shoulder and placed his other hand down the front of her shorts.
She removed his arms from her.
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As she was preparing to leave the bar, she saw Senda touching another woman.
The second survivor explained she felt someone’s hands come from behind her and placed on her chest and then her breasts.
She turned around to see that it was Senda and immediately left the bar with the other woman.
They reported Senda’s behaviour to the course leaders – who asked the ex-Millwall man to leave the programme.
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With permission, he met with the pair to apologise before flying back to the UK – although one complainant felt “railroaded” into attending.
The women did not press legal charges as the assaults took place overseas but did make a formal complaint to the FA, who said they were “deeply sorry” for what happened.
Senda has admitted two charges of misconduct but in an interview with the FA in July, he said because of drinking alcohol he did not remember the incidents but also did not deny them.
An independent commission initially wanted to give Senda a six-year ban but this was reduced to four years due to his apology and early admission of the charges.
They said the incidents were of “the utmost seriousness” and that they “amounted to the commission of criminal offences that could never be condoned or tolerated in any environment”.
An FA spokesperson said: “Women deserve to be involved in professional football without the fear of any form of abuse.
“This was a shocking case, and we investigated the very serious allegations as soon as we were made aware of them.
Women in football will be supported and protected and offenders will be severely punished
FA spokesperson
“We thank the victims for reporting the incidents to us, and supporting the investigation through to its conclusion, and we are deeply sorry that they endured such a terrible experience.
“The behaviour shown by Daniel Senda in June 2023 will not be tolerated.
“We will investigate all allegations of sexual assault in a football environment which are reported to us – usually working with the police, but in this case, the incidents happened overseas so were not within the jurisdiction of UK law enforcement.
“We hope that the very lengthy ban serves as a strong deterrent, and a clear signal that women in football will be supported and protected and offenders will be severely punished.”
Senda came through the youth academy at Southampton and joined Wycombe, initially as a striker, in 1999.
After also playing at full-back and as a right midfielder and racking up 316 league appearances for the Chairboys, he joined Millwall in 2006.
But midway through his three-year stint in South London, he suffered a lengthy injury and was sidelined for 16 months.
Senda also had brief spells with Torquay, Bristol Rovers and Barnet but retired in 2013, 13 months after dislocating his kneecap.
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He transitioned into coaching, working through the EFL at Brentford, Barnet, Leyton Orient and, most recently, Charlton where he was a first-team assistant manager until Dean Holden’s sacking in August 2023 just five games into the new season.
According to LinkedIn, Senda is now self-employed after setting up his own football academy in Windsor.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
