Cape Verde's World Cup captain, Ryan Mendes, is reportedly under investigation following allegations of rape against a team translator earlier this year. Mendes, a 36-year-old winger, is a key player for the African nation, which has emerged as a surprise contender in the tournament.
The alleged incident occurred on March 27 in Auckland, New Zealand, when the Cape Verde team was present for friendly matches. According to Brazilian outlet Globo, Mendes is accused of sexually assaulting a Brazilian woman who had been contracted by the New Zealand Football Federation to serve as a translator for the team.
Reports detail that the alleged victim claims Mendes entered her hotel room, assaulted her, and then raped her. A medical report cited by Globo reportedly noted bruising on the alleged victim's body, including her neck and lips, with specific mention of lesions found during a genital examination. These findings were reportedly sent to New Zealand police on April 10, and the woman filed a police report, undergoing a forensic examination.
New Zealand police have confirmed an investigation is ongoing but have not named the individual involved, citing privacy laws. The alleged victim and her husband reportedly contacted the Cape Verde Football Federation and FIFA to request Mendes be suspended from the World Cup. The Cape Verde Football Federation has reportedly declined to comment.
FIFA issued a statement acknowledging the seriousness of such allegations and its procedures for reporting misconduct. "FIFA takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously and has a clear process for anyone in football who wants to report an incident," the statement read. "As a general rule, it is important to understand that independent judicial bodies do not comment on allegations they may or may not have received, nor on whether or not there are ongoing investigations into the alleged cases. Any information they wish to share will be communicated at their discretion. FIFA is in contact with the New Zealand authorities. Please understand that we cannot comment further at this time."
Mendes has participated in all three of Cape Verde's group stage matches in the World Cup. The team has achieved a notable success, finishing as runners-up in their group, which included Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. Cape Verde is scheduled to play Argentina in the next round on July 3.