Overview
- A Brazilian woman who worked as an interpreter for the Cabo Verde delegation filed a complaint alleging she was assaulted and raped in a hotel room on March 27; the formal report was lodged with New Zealand police on April 10.
- The complainant told reporters she supplied medical and forensic exams, photographs of bruising, and hotel security footage, and those items have been incorporated into the police file.
- New Zealand police have confirmed the investigation is active and said officers are analysing forensic and video evidence as part of routine inquiries; no formal charges have been announced.
- FIFA said it is in contact with New Zealand authorities and takes such allegations seriously, while the complainant says her requests to have Mendes removed from the World Cup squad drew no response from FIFA or the Cabo Verde federation.
- Mendes has continued to play for Cabo Verde during the tournament and remains in the squad ahead of the round-of-16 match with Argentina, a situation that raises legal and reputational questions while the police work proceeds.