Rachel Riley has called for domestic violence experts to be involved in Manchester United’s ‘club trials’ after allegations emerged over winger Antony’s previous relationship.
The ex-girlfriend of the Brazil international, Gabriela Cavallin, claims the 23-year-old assaulted her while pregnant, damaged her breast implant, cut off her finger with a glass and threatened to throw her out of a speeding car.
Antony responded to previous claims in June, denying the allegations, but was abandoned by the Brazil national team this week to “protect the alleged victim.”
It comes just days after Mason Greenwood, against whom charges of attempted rape and assault were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February, was loaned to LaLiga side Getafe after a six-month investigation.
Riley was also outspoken against the idea of United re-integrating Greenwood into the squad after their investigation was completed, claiming the club was ‘green-lighting abuse’ with their apparent support for the player.
Manchester United fan and Countdown co-host Rachel Riley has called for domestic violence experts to be involved in the club’s trials following allegations against Antony
Gabriella Cavallin has claimed that Antony attacked her while she was pregnant, later leaving her with a broken finger and threatening her with a glass
The Brazilian was dropped by his country for the final round of the World Cup qualifiers
But now the Countdown co-host – a Manchester United fan – has taken to social media in response to the allegations against Antony, writing: ‘Is anyone investigating these players?
“Horrible things described in these allegations.
“This time, domestic violence experts need to be involved in the club’s processes.”
No action has been taken by the club since the allegations came to light, but they may face some pressure to respond in the same way they acted in the wake of Greenwood’s initial allegations.
The England striker was suspended by the club following his first arrest for attempted rape and assault in January 2022, while Antony is currently on no sanctions.
Cavallin followed the player to Manchester when he joined United from Ajax for £81.3 million, and after a first attack in June last year, he claims a second attack occurred in January 2023, which left her with a dislodged breast implant and a cut left head.
When he went to play for Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar, she tried to end the relationship for good, but it didn’t work.
Cavallin accused Antony of putting her in a car and assaulting her repeatedly — while she was pregnant — and threatening to push her out of the car at high speed when they were vacationing in Brazil in June 2022.
Mason Greenwood was loaned out after Manchester United completed a six-month internal investigation, with charges of attempted rape and assault being dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February.
Cavallin, a DJ and influencer, filed a police report in Brazil in June and then spoke out on TV
Cavallin said she needed stitches to her chest after Antony allegedly injured her
A later attack is believed to have occurred in May 2023, with Cavallin suffering a cut finger after she claims to have defended herself amid threats from Antony with a glass.
Cavallin has filed a complaint against Antony with Greater Manchester Police after initially alleging four incidents of domestic violence, bodily harm and threats to authorities in Sao Paulo in June.
She went into further detail with Brazilian website UOL on Monday, revealing WhatsApp screenshots and photos of her injuries.
“Antony locked the door of the house and wouldn’t let me go out, and I had my finger open, all hurt,” Cavallin said, according to UOL Esporte.
“He broke my things and took my passport. His mother and stepfather even imprisoned him on the football field. He had a football field in his living room, surrounded by a fence.
“He was angry, tried to leave the field in any way, threw a football at me, threw a cell phone at me. He said he would kill me, that he would kill himself.’
The player responded last summer after the allegations first emerged with a statement, saying: “I can say with confidence that the allegations are false,” he wrote on social media.
“My relationship with Ms. Gabriela was tumultuous, with verbal abuse from both sides, but I never practiced any physical aggression. I trust that the ongoing police investigation will reveal the truth of my innocence.”
Manchester United have so far declined to comment on the allegations against Antony.
Antony posted a statement in Portuguese on Instagram in June emphasizing his innocence
Riley is not the only United fan to speak out against the Brazilian and question the club’s actions in response to such allegations.
The group Female Fans Against Greenwood’s Return wrote on social media: ‘The allegations against Antony are horrific and show that clubs and football authorities need to step up their game in how they respond to these issues as they will continue to happen.
“There needs to be protocols that take decisions out of the hands of the club because we know that in these cases clubs are unable to be objective and act in the wider interest.
Charities and organizations dedicated to supporting both survivors and perpetrators of abuse must play a central role in developing and advising on how to deal with these cases, and swifter action must be taken in cases where those in the world football are arrested and charged with violent crimes. and abuse to protect and support both fans and their colleagues within their clubs/the wider football industry.”
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