# Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes cleared of rape allegation as woman charged with false statement

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/cape-verde-captain-ryan-mendes-cleared-of-rape-allegation-as-woman-charged-with-false-statement/
- Published: 2026-11-06T03:37:32+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T04:18:40+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/nov/06/cape-verde-football-ryan-mendes-sexual-assault-allegation-dismissed-ntwnfb
- Topics: Football, Sport

## Key points

- Police dismissed the allegation against Ryan Mendes.
- A 40-year-old woman was charged with making a false statement.
- The claim followed a friendly match in Auckland.

## Summary

New Zealand police have dismissed a rape allegation against Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes, saying they could not substantiate a claim of sexual assault at an Auckland hotel in March. A 40-year-old woman has been charged with making a false statement, and is due in court next week.

Police said the decision followed months of investigation by their Adult Sexual Assault Team. The allegation arose hours after Cape Verde lost 4-2 to Chile in a friendly; Mendes’s lawyer said it had brought intense international media attention. Mendes, 36, has made 103 appearances for Cape Verde, who have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and plays for RS Berkane in Morocco.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.