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The Brazil and PSG striker has posted a seven-minute video on Instagram in which he denies the accusation and calls it “a set-up”.
By Sky News
Last Updated: 02/06/19 10:13am
Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar has denied he raped a woman he met on Instagram and insisted he is the victim of attempted blackmail.
Reuters and Associated Press say they have seen a document filed in Sao Paulo alleging the footballer drunkenly assaulted his accuser at a hotel in Paris, where he plays for Paris Saint-Germain.
The former Barcelona player, who signed for PSG for a world record £198m, is alleged to have met the woman after they exchanged messages on the social media site.
His assistant is said to have sent the woman plane tickets on 15 May and the pair checked in to a hotel.
According to the claims in the police report, after Neymar and the woman “caressed” the footballer became “aggressive”, then used “violence” and “practised sexual intercourse against the will of the victim”.
The player posted a seven-minute video on Instagram on Sunday in which he denied the accusation and insisted it was “a set-up”.
“Anyone who knows me, knows of my behaviour, knows that I would never do something like that,” he said.
The video included intimate images and WhatsApp messages he says he exchanged with the accuser in a friendly way days later.
“There was a relationship between a man and a woman between four walls,” he said, adding that “the next day nothing happened”.
“I hope investigators read the messages and see what happened,” said the striker.
A statement issued by Neymar’s management on his website said the 27-year-old forward completely repudiated the allegations and that he was a victim of blackmail.
“Although he was surprised by the news, the facts were already known to the player and his staff, considering that a few days ago he was the victim of an attempted extortion, practised by a lawyer from Sao Paulo who said he represented the interests of the alleged victim,” it said.
“The player’s lawyers were immediately notified and have since taken all appropriate steps.
“We completely repudiate the unjust accusations and, above all, the exposure in the press of an extremely negative situation.
“All evidence of attempted extortion and non-rape will be submitted to the police authorities in a timely manner.”
The woman told police about the incident when she returned home to Brazil, saying she did not report it in Paris because she was “emotionally shaken and afraid to register the facts in another country”.
Earlier, Neymar’s father and agent, Neymar Sr, said his son had consensual sexual relations with the accuser and was blackmailed by her lawyer after they broke up.
He said his son was innocent, but said the family were going through a “tough” time.
PSG have not commented on the allegation, nor has the hotel where it is said to have taken place.
Neymar is currently in Brazil, training with the national team ahead of the Copa America tournament this month.
