0
0
Manchester United winger Antony has been excluded from Brazil’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying games on Monday, amidst allegations of assault leveled against him by an ex-girlfriend.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) issued a statement announcing the temporary suspension of Antony with the aim of “protecting the alleged victim, the player, the Brazilian national team, and the CBF.”
Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus will step in to replace Antony in the squad for the upcoming matches against Bolivia on September 8 and Peru on September 12.
Antony, aged 23, vehemently denied allegations of physically assaulting his former girlfriend, Gabriela Cavallin, in a statement posted on his Instagram account on Monday. He firmly asserted that he is the “victim of baseless accusations.”
“I can confidently assert that these allegations are unfounded, and the evidence already presented and yet to be presented will demonstrate my innocence,” Antony stated.
The denial followed the release of WhatsApp messages, reportedly exchanged between Antony and Cavallin by the Brazilian press, where the player was alleged to have made threats against his former partner.
In one of the conversations highlighted in the local media reports, Cavallin expressed the need to apologize for “kicks and assaults.”
Antony’s response seemed to be a simple “I’m sorry.”
Cavallin is also seen in a photo with an apparent head wound.
In his Instagram post, Antony mentioned that his relationship with Cavallin was “tumultuous, marked by verbal abuse from both sides.”
Nevertheless, he vehemently denied any allegations of assault, stating, “I have never engaged in physical aggression.”
Antony further noted, “She has presented varying versions of the accusations at different times.”
“I am confident that the ongoing police investigations will ultimately reveal the truth,” he concluded.
