Cristiano Ronaldo Rape Allegation: Sponsors Nike, EA Sports Express Concern, Juventus Backs Portugal Forward
In a statement to The Associated Press, Nike gave its initial reactions on the rape allegation on Cristiano Ronaldo in a 2009 case.
Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who has denied the rape allegations against him in a 2009 case by a model named Kathryn Mayorga, is now reportedly facing the heat from top sponsors as sports apparel giant Nike and video game maker EA Sports have expressed concern over the rape allegations on the soccer superstar and his conduct off the field, reported news agency AP.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Nike gave its initial reactions on the allegations put on Ronaldo. Ronaldo, who has been associated with Nike from 2003, signed $1 billion deal in 2016, and the Portugal captain had called it a deal “for life.”
Meanwhile, Italian club Juventus, which signed Ronaldo earlier this year in a record deal, has backed Cristiano Ronaldo and said that the allegations made against him do not change the club's opinion about Ronaldo's professionalism and dedication.
But even as Ronaldo gets the backing of his club in wake of the rape allegations against him, the soccer superstar has been dropped from the Portugal squad for the upcoming UEFA Champions League game at Poland on October 11, 2018. He is also not a part of the friendly game against Scotland in Glasgow which will be held on October 14. Cristiano Ronaldo DROPPED From Portugal Squad Following Rape Allegations by Kathryn Mayorga!
On Wednesday, Cristiano Ronaldo denied the accusations by the former American model Kathryn Mayorgathat, that he raped her in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009 and said his conscience is clear. Cristiano Ronaldo Rape Allegation: Juventus Forward Denies Hotel Sex Attack, Calls Rape 'Abominable'.
"I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me," he tweeted in Portuguese and English. "Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in," said the 33-year-old Juventus forward. "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," added the Portugal forward as to why he didn't defend himself as soon as the allegations were made against him.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 05, 2018 09:33 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).