The captain of group has been accused of the group’s translator throughout a group journey to , based on a brand new report.
, 36, allegedly sexually assaulted a Brazilian girl who was employed to work as a translator in the course of the group’s March journey to New Zealand, based on ‘s .
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The girl, who has not been recognized, advised Brazilian media that Mendes entered her resort room and attacked her. She mentioned she reported the incident to not less than three officers from Cape Verde’s soccer authority and by no means acquired a response.
The translator mentioned the alleged incident occurred at a resort in Auckland the place the Cape Verdean group was staying.
The girl’s allegations solid a shadow over what has turn out to be the feel-good story of the 2026 World Cup. Cape Verde managed to carry to a 0-0 attract its opening match and went on to turn out to be the for the .
Cape Verde’s Ryan Mendes has been accused of rape by a girl who mentioned she was working because the group’s translator throughout a current membership journey to New Zealand (Reuters)
The girl advised Globo that she was employed by Cape Verde’s group to work throughout this yr’s FIFA Collection in New Zealand. She mentioned she was invited to a gathering in a resort room following a match in opposition to Chile on March 27, however realized upon arrival that it was a social gathering fairly than an official group assembly.
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She mentioned she returned to her room however was allegedly adopted again by Mendes, who knocked at her door. The translator mentioned she opened her door and Mendes allegedly pressured his manner into the room, choked her, punched her, bit her, and proceeded to rape her, based on a press release she gave to the New Zealand police, as reported by Globo.
The girl supplied images to the outlet displaying bruising on her neck. She mentioned that she sought therapy at a clinic for survivors of sexual violence and was given a forensic examination. The clinic reportedly discovered bruises on her neck, breasts, lips, and a genital examination discovered “two round lesions, painful to the contact.”
The outcomes had been despatched to the New Zealand Police on April 10.
On Could 10, the girl and her husband despatched complaints to the Cape Verdean Soccer Federation and FIFA with the medical report and proof of the alleged rape and requested that Mendes be barred from collaborating within the World Cup as punishment.
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She advised Globo that she by no means acquired a response from FIFA.
The reported final month {that a} sexual assault involving a member of the Cape Verde group was beneath investigation, however these reviews didn’t identify Mendes as the topic of the allegations.
A FIFA spokesperson confirmed to The Unbiased that it’s “in touch with the New Zealand authorities,” however “can not remark additional at this stage.”
“FIFA takes any allegation of misconduct extraordinarily significantly and has a transparent course of in place for anybody in soccer who needs to report an incident,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The Unbiased has requested remark from the New Zealand Police and the Cape Verde Soccer Affiliation.
Globo mentioned it additionally requested remark from the Cape Verde Soccer Affiliation and was advised by officers that it might not supply touch upon the criticism.