Ryan Mendes Cleared of Rape Allegation as New Zealand Police Charge Accuser
New Zealand police have dismissed a rape allegation against Cape Verde soccer captain Ryan Mendes and charged his accuser with making a false statement, Yahoo Sports reported. Detective Inspector Scott Beard stated Friday that the claim of sexual assault at a central Auckland hotel in March lacked substantiation.
A 40-year-old woman faces charges under New Zealand’s Crimes Act for making a false statement. She is scheduled to appear in court next week following an investigation by the Adult Sexual Assault Team.
Authorities prosecute following months of investigation
The investigation spanned several months before authorities reached a decision to prosecute. “A decision to prosecute in these circumstances is not taken lightly and follows months of investigative work by our Adult Sexual Assault Team,” Beard said.
The alleged incident occurred hours after Cape Verde played a friendly match against Chile in Auckland, which Chile won 4-2. AOL.com noted that the accusations involved a Brazilian translator working with the group during their trip.
Impact on the Cape Verde Soccer Captain
Ryan Mendes faced intense international media scrutiny during the World Cup following the initial report. Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and the subject of the alleged assault emerged at nearly every media conference Mendes attended.
Karl Trotter, the lawyer representing Mendes, issued a statement on Nov. 4 confirming the police conclusion. “Mr. Mendes was thrilled to finally be able to get this behind him and he regards it as a complete vindication,” Trotter told the New Zealand Herald. Trotter added that he hopes the clearing of his client receives the same level of media attention as the original reporting.
Mendes captains Cape Verde and plays for RS Berkane
The 36-year-old Mendes stands as Cape Verde’s most capped player, making 103 appearances since his debut in 2010. He currently plays professionally for RS Berkane in Morocco, a club coached by former Cape Verde manager Bubista.
Cape Verde advanced to the knockout stages of the World Cup, where they pushed Argentina to extra time before losing 3-2. Following the tournament, the team played African Cup of Nations qualification matches against Mali and Rwanda, with Mendes starting in both games before receiving a recall for back-to-back matches against Liberia.
Woman faces false statement charge in court
What specific charge was filed against the accuser?
The 40-year-old woman was charged under section 111 of New Zealand’s Crimes Act 1961 with making a false statement.
When is the accused woman expected to appear in court?
She is scheduled to make her court appearance next week to answer the charges brought by New Zealand police.
Which team does Ryan Mendes currently play for?
Mendes plays for RS Berkane, a club in Morocco, and serves as the captain of the Cape Verde national soccer team.