Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes cleared of rape allegations; accuser charged by New Zealand police

Ryan Mendes (right) is Cape Verde’s most capped player, having made 103 appearances since his debut in 2010. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

New Zealand police has dismissed a rape allegation against Cape Verde’s captain Ryan Mendes and has charged the accuser with making a false statement.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard said Friday that the claim that a sexual assault occurred at a central Auckland hotel in March had not been substantiated.

A 40-year-old woman has been charged under New Zealand’s Crimes Act with making a false statement. She is expected to appear in court next week.

“A decision to prosecute in these circumstances is not taken lightly and follows months of investigative work by our Adult Sexual Assault Team,” Beard said.

The incident was alleged to have occurred hours after Cape Verde played Chile in a friendly match in Auckland, which Chile won 4- 2.

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Mendes’ lawyer, Karl Trotter, said the allegation led to intense international media speculation about his client. Cape Verde qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and the alleged assault became the subject of almost every media conference Mendes attended.

“Mr. Mendes was thrilled to finally be able to get this behind him, and he regards it as a complete vindication,” Karl Trotter told the New Zealand Herald newspaper.

“It is to be hoped that this recent turn of events, clearing Mr. Mendes of the allegation of rape, attracts the same level of media attention as the original reporting.”

The 36-year-old Mendes is Cape Verde’s most capped player, having made 103 appearances since his debut in 2010. He currently plays for RS Berkane in Morocco.