Cape Verde football team leader Ryan Mendes faces investigation over alleged sexual assault of interpreter

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The captain of Cape Verde, Ryan Mendes, has been accused of rape by a team translator after he allegedly entered her hotel room and choked her.

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According to a report by Brazil’s Globo news outlet on Saturday, the 36-year-old Cape Verdean captain, who has played in all three of the African island country’s World Cup games so far, was accused of sexually assaulting a Brazilian woman hired to be the team’s translator during a trip to New Zealand to play a game in March.

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The unidentified woman said she approached at least three officials from the Cape Verdean soccer authorities, who did not respond, according to Brazilian media.

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The case is now being investigated by New Zealand police, who have collected security camera footage from an Auckland hotel and are awaiting the results of a forensic investigation before deciding whether to charge Mendes.

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The alleged sex assault was reported by New Zealand media last month, but the name of the player was not revealed, only that he was on Cape Verde’s team.

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In her statement, the woman said, “I was hired by Cape Verde’s soccer team for their games in the FIFA Series in New Zealand, and after the first match against Chile, I was invited to a meeting in one of the hotel rooms reserved for the national side.

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“But when I realised that I wasn’t needed to translate and that this was a social gathering, I returned to my room and, shortly after, heard knocking on the door.”

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When she opened it, Mendes allegedly forced his way into her room, throttled, punched, and bit her, before raping her, the lady was quoted as saying in a statement to New Zealand police.

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She shared pictures of injuries to her mouth, neck, leg, and side, which were handed to the police.

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Mendes, whose Cape Verde team made history as the smallest nation to reach the World Cup knockout rounds, has not yet responded to the allegations.

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Soccer’s governing body, FIFA, issued a statement hours after the allegations were first reported on Sunday.

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The organisation said it is in contact with New Zealand authorities and takes allegations of misconduct “extremely seriously,” according to Brazil’s media.

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However, it said it could not comment on the allegations or confirm whether any investigations are underway.

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