Cape Verde football player being investigated by NZ police after complaint of alleged sex attack still eligible for World Cup selection

The Cape Verde football federation has refused to confirm if the player under police investigation for an alleged sex attack at an Auckland hotel in March will remain eligible for its World Cup squad.

As reported in the Herald on Sunday, Auckland police are currently investigating the complaint over the alleged incident, which is alleged to have taken place during the Fifa Series tournament here earlier this year.

Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident, which is alleged to have happened at Cape Verde’s team hotel hours after a match between Cape Verde and Chile at Eden Park on Friday, March 27.

The Herald has asked the Cape Verde federation if the player will remain part of its World Cup plans, with its squad due to be named later this month.

But the national association declined to comment. It also refused to say if it has started its own investigation into the matter or to elaborate on the communications so far with the police or governing body Fifa.

All World Cup squads, made up of between 23 and 26 players, need to be finalised with Fifa by June 2.

Cape Verde travelled with a 26-man squad to New Zealand and local media have indicated that almost all of those players on that trip are likely to make the cut for the global extravaganza in North America.

The Herald understands police have sought CCTV footage from the hotel.

A source close to the complainant said she had been struggling to cope since the alleged incident.

New Zealand Football (NZF) chief executive Andrew Pragnell confirmed his organisation has been in touch with Fifa, after the Herald broke the story.

“We’ve raised it with Fifa, based on the media reports,” Pragnell said. “They’d also had somebody reach out to them, so they’re aware of the situation and monitoring it closely.”

NZF took an organising role in the Fifa Series – as the host member association – but it has yet to contact Cape Verde on this matter.

“Obviously, because the police are investigating, it’s really important that the police process follows its course,” Pragnell said. “That needs to take place in the very first instance, before any other kind of actions.”

He also confirmed that the African nation hasn’t initiated any discussions or correspondence with NZF.

“No, they haven’t,” Pragnell said. “I would hope that they’re well aware of it, given the seriousness of the [allegation] and I would expect that the police would have been in touch with them.”

Pragnell admitted that the nature of the allegation was disturbing.

“Yes, I think any serious allegation like this is concerning,” Pragnell said. “The key is that it’s investigated in full by the police. New Zealand Police haven’t been in touch with us but if they were we would obviously assist in any way we can.”

Cape Verde will feature at their first World Cup next month, after qualifying last October. The team, nicknamed the Blue Sharks, have been drawn in Group H, where they face 2010 champions Spain in their opening game in Atlanta on June 16 (NZT), before taking on Uruguay in Miami six days later. Their final group match is against Saudi Arabia in Houston on June 26.

Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.