A 40-year-old woman has been charged under New Zealand's Crimes Act with making a false statement after New Zealand police dismissed a rape allegation against Cape Verde soccer captain Ryan Mendes. The alleged incident occurred hours after Cape Verde played Chile in a friendly match, which Chile won 4-2, in Auckland. According to ESPN Soccer, the claim that a sexual assault occurred at a central Auckland hotel in March had not been substantiated.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard stated that the decision to prosecute the accuser was not taken lightly, following months of investigative work by the Adult Sexual Assault Team. Mendes' lawyer, Karl Trotter, said the allegation resulted in his client facing intense international media speculation. Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and the subject of the alleged assault arose at almost every media conference Mendes attended.
Mendes, 36, is Cape Verde's most capped player, having made 103 appearances since his debut in 2010. He currently plays for RS Berkane in Morocco. The accuser is expected to appear in court next week, where she will face charges of making a false statement.
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