Antony dropped from Brazil national team over domestic abuse claims

The Brazilian national soccer team dropped Manchester United star Antony from its roster following new allegations of domestic abuse by a former girlfriend. 

The allegations were first been made against Antony back in June and in a new interview ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin made startling accusations that the footballer had attacked her while she was pregnant, damaged her breast implants and cut her finger with broken glass. 

Man. United told ESPN that it was aware of the Brazil Football Confederation’s (CBF) decision to remove him from the team.

Brazil is slated to play CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying games against Bolivia and Peru. 

“Due to the facts that became public this Monday involving Manchester United player Antony, and which need to be investigated, and in order to safeguard the alleged victim, the player, the Brazilian team and the CBF, the organisation informs that the athlete has been withdrawn from the Brazilian team,” a statement from Brazil Football Confederation read. 

Authorities in Brazil are investigating the allegations and a complaint has been filed with the Greater Manchester Police.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said that it was aware of the allegations and “inquiries remain ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding this report.” 

Antony, 23, has denied the allegations and called them “false” in a post on his social media, according to ESPN. 

“Out of respect for my fans, friends and family, I feel obligated to speak publicly about the false accusations I have been a victim of,” he wrote. 

“From the beginning I have handled this issue seriously and with respect, providing the due clarifications to the police authority. The police inquest is under the cover of justice and therefore I cannot make its content public. However, I can say with confidence that the accusations are false and the evidence already produced and more to be produced show that I am innocent of the accusations made.”

Authorities in Brazil have been looking into four alleged incidents that Cavallin reported in June, according to the Daily Mail.  

In an article published Monday by the Brazilian website UOL, Cavallin went into new detail about what occurred between the DJ and influencer and the Brazillian soccer star. 

Cavallin told the outlet, according to the Daily Mail, that Antony had repeatedly put her in a car and attacked her while she was pregnant in June 2022 while they were on holiday in Brazil. 

In another incident, she claimed during the interview that after Antony had joined United from Ajax – a Dutch professional soccer club – another assault occurred on January 15.

“I don’t remember exactly who the fight was about, but it was someone I had been with years ago,’ Cavallin told UOL. “He punched me in the chest and my silicone [implant] turned over. Then I came to Brazil for surgery to change the prosthesis. He said: ‘I didn’t mean to hurt you, it was accidental, it wasn’t a punch, I just pushed you, I just held you against the wall.’”

Then on May 8, she claimed, Anthony threatened her with glass and in the process of trying to defend herself she cut a finger.

Cavallin said that she returned to Brazil after that, 

“On that last day [May 8], it was very serious. I was really scared that I wouldn’t be able to get out of the house,” she said.