Cristiano Ronaldo protests on a plane over a sex abuse allegation. During Cristiano Ronaldo’s homecoming game for Manchester United, a banner supporting a woman accused of sex assault was flown above Old Trafford .Cristiano Ronaldo protests on a plane over a sex abuse allegation
The feminist organization Level Up stated that they intended to “remind audiences” of the rape charges levelled against him.
Cristiano Ronaldo protests on a plane over a sex abuse allegation. He allegedly attacked Kathryn Mayorga in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009.
Ronaldo, who has rejected the allegations, was not charged by US authorities in 2019.
In his first Manchester United encounter in 12 years, the Portuguese striker scored twice as the Reds won 4-1.
Ms Mayorga is said to have negotiated an out-of-court settlement with Ronaldo in 2010 that included a payment of £288,000 ($375,000) in exchange for agreeing not to make the claims public .Cristiano Ronaldo protests on a plane over a sex abuse allegation
The non-disclosure agreement was “by no means a confession of guilt,” according to his lawyers.
The athlete was following instructions “to put a stop to the absurd charges made against him, in order exactly to avoid attempts to ruin a reputation established on hard work, physical talent, and behavioral rectification,” according to the report.
Ms Mayorga attempted to reopen the case in 2018, claiming that the #MeToo movement against sexual abuse had motivated her.
The claims were then examined by Las Vegas police, who concluded that they “cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt” and so would not file charges against Ronaldo.
Ms Mayorga reported an incident in 2009, but refused to say where it occurred or identify the assailant, according to the local district attorney’s office, so police were unable to “perform any significant investigation.”
Ronaldo did not deny the two met, but said it was a consensual affair as he was ready to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo protests on a plane over a sex abuse allegation. He tweeted in 2018: “I categorically refute the charges levelled against me. Rape is a heinous act that contradicts all I am and believe.”
Level Up stated that they intended to “disrupt the hoopla” surrounding the player’s return to Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo protests on a plane over a sex abuse allegation. Janey Starling, the group’s co-director, said the goal was to convey “a message to football that rape claims can’t be booted off the field.”