Cristiano Ronaldo: ‘Believe Catherine Mayorga’ banner raised over Man United stadium in protest of sexual assault allegations football news

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A message of support for Catherine Mayorga, the woman who accused Cristiano Ronaldo of sexually assaulting her in 2009, was relayed over Old Trafford during the Manchester United striker’s debut on Saturday.

Feminist group Level Up was responsible for the banner that read: “Believe Kathryn Mayorga.”

In a post on Twitter, they added: “Let’s say no to the culture of silence about abuse from the football community.”

☄️ I flew a plane over the Man United football stadium and our message is simple: believe Catherine Mayorga.

Let’s say no to the culture of silence about abuse from the football community. Pledge of solidarity with Catherine and the survivors: https://t.co/YZgcxou75E pic.twitter.com/jvGVOBYTIP

– Level Up (@we_level_up) September 11, 2021

Mayorga alleged that Ronaldo raped her in a hotel room in Las Vegas in the summer of 2009. He has denied the allegations.

“I vehemently deny the accusations against me,” the 36-year-old said on Twitter in 2018. “Rape is a heinous crime that goes against everything I am and believe in.”

In 2019, US prosecutors decided that Ronaldo would not face criminal charges over the allegations because the investigation failed to establish that the claim could be substantiated.

The plane flew over Old Trafford after kick-off in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Newcastle in the Premier League, as Ronaldo scored twice on his comeback 12 years after leaving.

Photo: A protest banner was raised over Old Trafford on the day Ronaldo made his second Manchester United appearance

In 2019, Ronaldo said the rape allegations against him were an assault on his honor and led to the worst year of his life.

Speaking to Portuguese TVI, Ronaldo said: “2018 was probably my worst year ever, personally. When people question your honor, it hurts me a lot.”

The investigation was originally closed in 2009, but reopened in 2018 shortly before Ms Mayorga filed a civil lawsuit, providing details she initially withheld. She said she gained the courage to speak up because of the #MeToo movement.

Speaking to investigators at the time, the woman said she knew the person she claimed had assaulted her, but declined to be identified and did not specify the location of the attack.

As a result, police say they were not able to “follow protocols to investigate sexual assault cases or conduct any meaningful investigation” because they were unable to visit the crime scene or seize vital forensic evidence.

The statement also said video evidence believed to show interactions between the alleged attacker and the victim before and after the crime went missing, closing the criminal case for the first time.

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