Drama as Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes in fingered in messy rape scandal
By Francesca Hangeior
Cape Verde national team captain Ryan Mendes has been accused of rape by a team translator, who alleged that he entered her hotel room and assaulted her during the team’s trip to New Zealand in March. 
According to Brazil’s Globo news outlet, the 36-year-old footballer, who has featured in all three of Cape Verde’s World Cup matches, is accused of sexually assaulting a Brazilian woman hired to serve as the team’s translator during the FIFA Series in New Zealand.
The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly said she informed at least three officials of the Cape Verde Football Federation about the alleged incident but received no response.
New Zealand Police are investigating the allegations. Authorities have reportedly obtained security camera footage from an Auckland hotel and are awaiting the results of forensic examinations before deciding whether to file charges against Mendes.
The alleged assault was first reported by New Zealand media last month, although the player’s identity was not disclosed at the time. Reports only indicated that the suspect was a member of the Cape Verde national team.
In her statement, the translator said she had been hired to work with the Cape Verde squad during their matches in the FIFA Series.
She explained that after the team’s first game against Chile, she was invited to what she believed would be a work-related meeting in one of the hotel rooms reserved for the national team.
However, she claimed that upon arriving, she realized her translation services were not required and that the gathering was purely social. She said she returned to her room shortly afterward, where she later heard a knock on her door.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no criminal charges have been announced. Mendes has not publicly responded to the allegations.
