Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo says his family are stunned and very angry as he faces a rape allegation.
American Kathryn Mayorga has accused Ronaldo of sexually assaulting her in a hotel in Las Vegas in 2009, something the Portuguese has strenuously refuted.
German publication Der Spiegel first reported the claims, which also included the suggestion Ronaldo paid Ms Mayorga $375,000 in 2010 as part of a privacy agreement, preventing her from going public with the allegations. Ms Mayorga filed a lawsuit in an attempt to quash that agreement while Las Vegas police have re-opened an investigation.
Ronaldo s lawyer Peter Christiansen confirmed the payment was made to Ms Mayorga, but said some documents presented as evidence had been stolen and completely fabricated .
In a statement released earlier this month, Ronaldo described rape as an abominable crime and in a France Football interview he explained the impact the allegation has had on his family.
I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in. Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense.
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano)
My clear conscious will thereby allow me to await with tranquillity the results of any and all investigations.
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano)
I explained to my partner, Ronaldo said.
My son, Cristiano Jr, is too young to understand. It s worst for my mother and my sisters. They are stunned, and at the same time very angry.
This is the first time I have seen them in this state.
