Another international break begins on Monday and once again Portugal will be without the face of their program, Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal coach Fernando Santos did not call up Ronaldo for the games against Poland on October 11 (UEFA Nations League) and Scotland October 14 (international friendly).
Santos said his superstar will miss the November international break as well, but didn’t specify the reason. Ronaldo is currently the subject of both a civil suit and a criminal investigation regarding a 2009 incident in Las Vegas, Nevada. A woman named Kathryn Mayorga alleges that Ronaldo raped her at his hotel room nine years ago.
Ronaldo, who has denied the accusations and maintained his innocence multiple times, didn’t participate in the September international break either.
While Santos would not confirm Ronaldo’s absence as being directly tied to the rape allegations, he did make a strong public statement endorsing the character of his player.
“(Portugal Football Federation) president Fernando Gomes and I spoke with Cristiano Ronaldo and we considered it best for the player not to be included in this and November’s call-ups,” Santos told a press conference today.
“I personally always support my players, and this is not even a question of solidarity, but I believe what the player said publicly. He considers rape to be an abominable crime and clearly reaffirms that he is innocent of what he is being accused of. I know Cristiano well and I fully believe he would not commit a crime like that.”
Gomes also said at the news conference that he believes Ronaldo is innocent.
“In my name and that of the Portuguese football federation, I express my complete solidarity for Cristiano Ronaldo at a time when his good name and reputation is being called into question,” Gomes said.
“I believe in the words he issued, not only because I defend the presumption of innocence as the basic principle of a state of law, but also because I have known Ronaldo for many years and I am a witness of his good character.”
Santos also said that he has spoken with Ronaldo since the allegations surfaced, but said he would keep the contents of that conversation private between him and the national team’s all-time leading scorer.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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