Antony's Allegations Lead to Removal from Brazil's National Squad

 Antony's Allegations Lead to Removal from Brazil's National Squad

Antony's Allegations Lead to Removal from Brazil's National Squad(Image-Getty)

Manchester United has responded to the assault allegations against their striker, Antony, taking the matter seriously and acknowledging its impact, which has led to his removal from the Brazilian national squad for two World Cup qualifiers.

The decision to exclude Antony from Brazil's national squad came after local media outlet UOL published allegations of physical assault made against him by his ex-girlfriend, Gabriela Cavallin. Antony vehemently denies any wrongdoing in this matter.

This incident follows another recent controversy involving Manchester United's striker Mason Greenwood. The club announced last month that Greenwood would leave Old Trafford to prevent becoming a "distraction" after facing allegations of assault and attempted rape. However, these charges were dropped in February, as prosecutors cited "the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light." Greenwood, 21, subsequently joined Spanish LaLiga side Getafe on a season-long loan.

Manchester United stated that they take the allegations against Antony seriously, emphasizing their concern for the potential impact of such allegations and their reporting on survivors of abuse. The club acknowledged the ongoing police investigation into the matter and indicated that they would refrain from making further comments until more information becomes available.

The Brazilian soccer federation (CBF) explained Antony's withdrawal from the national squad as a measure to protect the alleged victim, the player himself, the Brazilian national team, and the CBF.

Antony has maintained his innocence but has refrained from providing further details about the allegations due to the ongoing police investigation. However, he expressed confidence that the accusations against him are false.

A spokesperson for Brazil's Public Security Secretariat confirmed the existence of an active police investigation into the matter.

In response to Antony's absence, Brazil's coach, Fernando Diniz, has called up Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus to replace him. Brazil is set to face Bolivia on Friday and Peru four days later, marking the beginning of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.