Saturday, November 7, 2026 - Police in New Zealand have dismissed a rape allegation against Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes and charged the accuser with making a false statement.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard said on Friday, November 6, the
claim that a sexual assault occurred at a central Auckland hotel in March had
not been substantiated.
A 40-year-old woman has been charged under New Zealand's
Crimes Act with making a false statement. She is expected to appear in court
next week.
"A decision to prosecute in these circumstances is not
taken lightly and follows months of investigative work by our Adult Sexual
Assault Team," Beard said.
The incident was alleged to have occurred hours after Cape
Verde played Chile in a friendly match, which Chile won 4-2, in Auckland.
Mendes' lawyer, Karl Trotter, said the allegation resulted
in his client facing intense international media speculation. Cape Verde
qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and the subject of the alleged assault arose
at almost every media conference Mendes attended.
"Mr. Mendes was thrilled to finally be able to get this
behind him, and he regards it as a complete vindication," Trotter told the
New Zealand Herald newspaper.
"It is to be hoped that this recent turn of events,
clearing Mr. Mendes of the allegation of rape, attracts the same level of media
attention as the original reporting."
Mendes, 36, is Cape Verde's most-capped player, having made
103 appearances since his debut in 2010. He currently plays for RS Berkane in
Morocco.
0 Comments