Cape Verde national team captain Ryan Mendes is facing a police investigation over a rape allegation stemming from an incident during a tournament in New Zealand earlier this year, according to The New Zealand Herald. The alleged assault took place at an Auckland hotel in March after Cape Verde played a match against Chile.
FIFA Aware of Investigation
FIFA has been aware of the inquiry for several weeks, the outlet reported. The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, began on June 11. Cape Verde, an island nation off West Africa, made history by tying powerhouse Spain and other group-stage opponents to become the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout rounds. Mendes played in all three group matches.
New Zealand police confirmed the investigation to the Herald but declined to provide specific details. A report from Brazilian outlet globo.com on Sunday indicated that investigators are awaiting a forensic report from an examination conducted on the accuser months ago.
Accuser's Account and Injuries
The accuser, a Brazilian woman who served as the team’s translator in New Zealand—since Cape Verde’s official language is Portuguese—reportedly contacted officials from Cape Verde’s soccer federation before filing a police complaint but received no assistance, according to globo.com. She was treated at a clinic for survivors of sexual violence, and the medical report detailed “bruises on her breasts, neck, and lips, as well as areas of tenderness on her scalp and buttocks” and “two circular lesions, painful to the touch, at the base of the labia minora.”
FIFA told USA Today that it takes “any allegation of misconduct” seriously and is in contact with New Zealand authorities. Cape Verde is scheduled to play top-ranked Argentina on Friday in the round of 32.
Team Response Unavailable
HuffPost emailed Cape Verde’s squad seeking comment from Mendes, but the message bounced back with a notification that the inbox is full. Separately, Ghana’s Thomas Partey has also participated in the tournament while facing seven charges of rape.
