Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been left off the Portuguese National team amid allegations of rape from 2009, according to reports. Ronaldo will miss Portugal’s second game in the ongoing UEFA Nations League on October 11 as well as a friendly match three days later.
Portugal national team coach Fernando Santos has since stated that his star player will also not be called up for the next round of international games in November. Santos went on to say that the decision was taken following talks between Santos, Ronaldo and the head of the Portuguese soccer federation. Ronaldo missed two Portugal games in September at his own request, Reuters reports.
Ronaldo has been accused of rape by Kathryn Mayorga, who says the player assaulted her at a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009. Cristiano has denied the allegations against him.
The denial of Ronaldo, who joined Juventus in the past summer transfer window for 112 million euros ($129 million) after spending nine successful years at Real Madrid, comes after the German magazine Der Spiegel revealed the identity of the woman, American model Kathryn Mayorga, reports Efe.
"I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in," the 33-year-old forward tweeted.
"Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense," he stressed.
The accusations have since garnered immense media attention. Images allegedly taken at the Palms Casino Resort of the night in question were broadcast on Wednesday.
Shortly after the release of the images, Ronaldo denied these accusations through his Twitter account in both Portuguese and English.
I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in. Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense.
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) October 3, 2018
"My clear conscious will thereby allow me to await with tranquility the results of any and all investigations," Ronaldo added.
My clear conscious will thereby allow me to await with tranquillity the results of any and all investigations.
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) October 3, 2018
'With IANS inputs'