A coach who found himself at the center of serious allegations made by underage female athletes in Kefalonia regarding incidents of sexual harassment has been remanded in custody following the conclusion of his testimony before judicial authorities. According to local media, the accused, who was active in track and field athletics on the island, appeared before an investigating judge and prosecutor late on Friday evening. Following his testimony, and with the agreement of the judicial officers, a decision was made to remand him in pre-trial detention. The case has provoked strong reactions within the local community and the sports world of Kefalonia, while the judicial investigation remains ongoing.
The first report to the national SOS helpline 1056
The events began to come to light in late December 2025, when the mother of an underage athlete contacted the National SOS Helpline 1056. The woman reported serious incidents of sexual harassment involving her daughter and other underage girls by the specific athletics coach. Through the helpline, the mother was immediately connected with the Kefalonia Police Directorate to anonymously submit the information she had regarding her own child and her daughter’s fellow athletes. Anonymity proved to be a critical factor in protecting the privacy of the victims.
The obstacle of filing a named complaint
A significant aspect of the case concerns the mother’s earlier attempt to seek help from the competent Prosecutor’s Office. However, the process did not move forward, as she was asked to submit a named complaint. The woman refused, wishing to protect the privacy of her own child as well as the other minors involved in the incidents. Her choice to file an anonymous report through the SOS 1056 helpline proved decisive for the progression of the case, as it allowed authorities to act without exposing the victims.
Kefalonia: The Smile of the Child organization’s statement on the sexual abuse allegations
The Kefalonia case once again highlights the importance of timely reporting and the role of the National SOS Helpline 1056.
Following media reports regarding the pre-trial detention of a coach in Kefalonia for sexual abuse:
“The Smile of the Child” organization announces that: In late December 2025, the organization received a call on the National Children’s SOS Helpline 1056 from a mother reporting serious sexual harassment of her daughter and other underage girls by a track and field coach in Kefalonia.
Immediately, through the National Children’s SOS Helpline 1056, the mother was connected with the Kefalonia Police Directorate, where she anonymously reported everything she knew concerning both her own child and her daughter’s fellow athletes.
It was also reported that the coach subjected the children to physical violence — in the form of slaps when they failed to perform an exercise correctly — and frequently made degrading comments toward them.
Additionally, the mother noted that before calling the National Children’s SOS Helpline 1056, she had approached the competent Prosecutor’s Office but had not proceeded with a complaint, as she had been asked to file it under her name — something she was unwilling to do in order to protect the privacy of her own child and the others involved.
Months later, “The Smile of the Child” and the National Children’s SOS Helpline 1056 were approached by the parents of another child involved in the abuse incidents in Kefalonia, seeking guidance and support.
This incident is not an isolated one. According to “The Smile of the Child” organization, calls and reports to the National SOS Helpline 1056 concerning the sexual abuse of children are on the rise.
“The Smile of the Child” once again calls on every child and adult to contact the National Children’s SOS Helpline 1056, or online via CyberTipline Hellas at https://www.hamogelo.gr/gr/el/paidia-thimata-vias:cyber-tipline/ — free of charge, anonymously, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — to seek help, report a child at risk, or request guidance.
