Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:58am on 29 Jun 2026,Monday Sports
Cape Verde's historic FIFA World Cup campaign has been overshadowed by a serious off-field controversy after captain Ryan Mendes came under investigation over an alleged rape complaint. According to reports, a Brazilian woman working as a translator accused the 36-year-old footballer of sexually assaulting her during Cape Verde's visit to New Zealand in March. New Zealand Police confirmed an investigation is ongoing, but no charges have been filed. FIFA said it is in contact with the authorities and takes such allegations seriously. Despite the investigation, Mendes remains with the squad as Cape Verde prepare to face Argentina in the Round of 32. (PC: India Today)
