New Zealand police have dismissed a rape allegation against Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes and charged the woman who made the complaint with allegedly providing a false statement.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard announced on Friday, November 6, that an allegation of sexual assault at a hotel in central Auckland in March had not been substantiated.
The 40-year-old woman has been charged under New Zealand’s Crimes Act with making a false statement and is expected to appear in court next week.
Beard said the decision to prosecute followed months of investigation by the police Adult Sexual Assault Team.
“A decision to prosecute in these circumstances is not taken lightly and follows months of investigative work by our Adult Sexual Assault Team,” he said.
The alleged incident was said to have occurred hours after Cape Verde played Chile in an international friendly in Auckland, which Chile won 4-2.
Mendes’ lawyer, Karl Trotter, said the allegation had exposed his client to intense international media scrutiny.
He explained that the issue was repeatedly raised at media conferences attended by the footballer following Cape Verde’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking to the New Zealand Herald, Trotter said Mendes was pleased that the matter had been resolved.
“Mr. Mendes was thrilled to finally be able to get this behind him, and he regards it as a complete vindication,” he said.
The lawyer also expressed hope that the police decision clearing his client would receive the same level of media coverage as the original allegation.
“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,” Trotter added.
The 36-year-old Mendes is Cape Verde’s most-capped player, with 103 international appearances since making his debut in 2010. He currently plays for Moroccan club RS Berkane.
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