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World Cup Star Being Investigated For Alleged Rape Of Translator
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- World Cup Star Being Investigated For Alleged Rape Of Translator
Ryan Mendes , the captain of Cape Verde 's team that unexpectedly qualified for the World Cup 's knockout stage, is being investigated for a rape allegation, The New Zealand Herald reported Monday.
The alleged incident took place at an Auckland hotel during a soccer tournament there in March after Cape Verde played Chile.
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FIFA has been aware of the investigation for several weeks, according to the outlet. The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico , began on June 11. Cape Verde, an island off west Africa, tied powerhouse Spain and its other group stage opponents to qualify as the smallest nation ever to make it to the single-elimination matches. Mendes played in all three games.
Police confirmed the investigation to the Herald but declined to offer specifics.
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Ryan Mendes, pictured during the World Cup, has been accused of rape. Zhizhao Wu via Getty Images
A report on Sunday from Brazilian outlet globo.com said investigators are waiting for a forensic report from an examination the accuser underwent months ago.
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The accuser, a Brazilian woman who served as the team's translator in New Zealand (Cape Verde's official language is Portuguese), had reached out to officials from Cape Verde's soccer federation before filing a police complaint but got no help, according to the outlet.
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She was treated at a clinic for survivors of ****** violence and the report included "bruises on her breasts, neck, and lips, as well as areas of tenderness on her scalp and buttocks" and "two circular lesions, painful to the touch, at the base of the labia minora," globo.com wrote.
FIFA told USA Today that it takes "any allegation of misconduct" seriously and was in contact with New Zealand officials.
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Cape Verde plays top-ranked Argentina on Friday in the round of 32.
HuffPost emailed Cape Verde's squad to seek comment from Mendes, but it bounced back with a message the inbox is full.
Ghana 's Thomas Partey has also played in the tournament despite facing seven charges of rape .
