From Ronaldo To Mason Greenwood: Football Players Accused Of Sexual Assault

After Manchester United player Mason Greenwood was accused of sexual assault by a woman, many similar cases from the past have come into life. Social media users pointed out how as Greenwood other football stars have also been allegedly involved in sexual misconduct. While many blamed the toxic fan culture attached to the football players, others called out the lack of accountability.

Following complaints on social media, 20-year-old Greenwood was arrested on suspicion of an alleged assault on Sunday. Manchester United have already stated that the accused will not be able to practise or play until further notice. From Mason Greenwood, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr., and Adam Johnson, here are a few star football players who were allegedly accused of rape or sexual assault.

Rape Accused Football Players:

1. Mason Greenwood:

Greenwood was detained after Greater Manchester Police "became aware of online social media photographs and videos made by a lady reporting incidents of physical assault," according to the police.  A woman, his supposed girlfriend, said on social media that he allegedly sexually assaulted her and subjected her to domestic abuse.

According to the report, magistrates had granted him a second extension to keep him in detention until Wednesday, but he had now been released on bail pending further investigation. Greenwood, who debuted for Manchester United in March 2019, signed a four-year contract in February of last year after progressing through the youth levels.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

In April 2017, the German journal Der Spiegel published both Kathryn Mayorga's rape allegation against Ronaldo and the existence of an out-of-court settlement between the two parties. Mayorga agreed to a non-disclosure agreement in January 2010 in exchange for a payment of $375,000 if she did not go public with the allegation.

Mayorga decided to go public with her name in September 2018, during the Me Too movement. She first reported a alleged rape to the Las Vegas Police Department on June 13, 2009, the day after meeting Ronaldo in the nightclub where the alleged event occurred.

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3. Neymar Jr.

Neymar Jr., a Brazilian soccer player, was charged in June 2019 for assaulting a woman in a Paris hotel. For several weeks, the story dominated headlines in Brazil and internationally. It originally came to light in June, when the Paris St-Germain player said that he had been allegedly accused of rape in a seven-minute video posted on Instagram. He then shared what he claimed to be Whatsapp exchanges and photos between him and the woman.

He claimed in the video that he had no choice but to make them public in order to "show that nothing truly transpired." The lawsuit was put on hold owing to a lack of proof, according to the attorney general's office in So Paulo.

4.  Benjamin Mendy

Benjamin Mendy, a Manchester City footballer, has appeared in court to face a new charge of attempted rape. Mendy, who was arrested and charged at Chester Crown Court, is now facing nine charges involving six alleged survivors. The fresh charge of attempted rape involving a new complainant was allowed to be reported by a judge.

The France international turned his head towards a French interpreter who sat between him and his co-defendant, Louis Saha Matturie, to prove his identity. Mendy, 27, of Prestbury, Cheshire, is charged with seven charges of rape involving four women, one allegation of sexual assault, and the most recent charge.

5. David de Gea

According to various reports, Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has been mentioned in a alleged sexual assault inquiry by a protected witness who claims he helped arrange a meeting between two Spain under-21 players, her, and another woman in a Madrid hotel in 2012.

The witness, who was under police protection, alleged in evidence published by Eldiario.es that she was threatened and coerced into having sexual intercourse with Athletic Bilbao's Iker Muniain and another under-21 football player whose identity she could not establish in 2012.

" They were threatened to be silent about what happened in the hotel room after the sexual session. The encounter was not compensated for TP3 or the other women", according to Eldiario.es' summary of the police investigation. Gea, on the other hand, disputed all of the charges, saying, "I deny it, and that's it. It's a fabrication, a fabrication."

6. Karim Benzema