Cape Verde Captain Ryan Mendes Under Police Investigation for Rape of Translator. FIFA and Federation Have Not Suspended Him.

What Happened

On March 27, Cape Verde was in Auckland for the FIFA Series tournament. A Brazilian woman, a New Zealand resident hired by the local federation to serve as interpreter and operational liaison for the Cape Verdean delegation, was staying at the same hotel as the team.

According to her account, reported by Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, she was invited to a team gathering after a match against Chile. Believing it was work-related, she went, then left when she realized it was a social event. Shortly after returning to her room, there was a knock at her door.

She says Ryan Mendes forced his way inside, punched her in the face, bit her, and raped her. When she tried to resist, she says he choked her.

Photos documented by police show injuries to her mouth, neck, hip, and legs. She visited a clinic specializing in sexual violence support, where medical and forensic examinations were conducted. According to Globo Esporte, the medical report documents bruising on her neck, breast, and lips, along with genital injuries described as consistent with her account.

The Investigation

New Zealand police confirmed an ongoing investigation in April. They have not named Mendes publicly, citing the country's privacy laws, according to reporting by Pulse Sports. Authorities secured CCTV footage from the hotel and are awaiting final forensic results before deciding whether to press charges.

The investigation is expected to take several months. Under New Zealand law, a conviction for sexual violence carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Mendes has not been charged. That means no judicial process has been initiated, and he retains the legal presumption of innocence.

Who Knew What

The alleged victim says she reported the assault to at least three Cape Verde soccer officials at the time. According to Sportschosun, she says she received little help from the Cape Verde Football Federation.

She and her husband subsequently filed formal complaints with both FIFA and the Cape Verdean Football Federation demanding Mendes be suspended from the World Cup, according to Pulse Sports. As of June 28, 2026, neither FIFA nor the Cape Verdean federation has announced any suspension or disciplinary action. Neither body, nor Mendes himself, has issued a public statement on the allegations.

Mendes at the World Cup

Mendes, 36, has played in France, England, the UAE, and currently plays for Iğdır FK in Turkey's second division. He is the captain of Cape Verde, the smallest nation ever to reach a World Cup, with a population of roughly 520,000. According to Sportschosun, he started all three of Cape Verde's group-stage matches. Cape Verde finished second in Group H alongside Spain and advanced to the Round of 32.

The Strongest Counterargument

Defenders of Mendes and Cape Verde's federation could reasonably point out that no charges have been filed after roughly three months of investigation. New Zealand police have said nothing publicly to implicate Mendes by name. Forensic processes take time, and the investigation is explicitly still open. Athletes accused of serious crimes before trial have sometimes been vindicated. Suspending a player from international competition before any charge is filed raises genuine due-process questions, and FIFA has historically resisted intervening in criminal matters that have not resulted in charges.

Those are fair points. They do not explain why Cape Verde's federation has issued no public response to a complaint from one of its own contracted staff members, or why officials who were allegedly notified in March took no reported action.

A Parallel Case at the Same Tournament

Mendes is not the only national team captain at this World Cup facing a sexual assault allegation. Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi is contesting a rape accusation from 2023. According to reporting by OneFootball on June 27, the Versailles Court of Appeal confirmed Hakimi's referral to a criminal court, and his lawyer Fanny Colin has said he plans to lodge a cassation appeal to challenge the legal grounds of the referral or seek recognition of procedural irregularities. Hakimi played in Morocco's Round of 32 match against the Netherlands. He has maintained his innocence throughout.

The two cases are legally and factually separate. The Hakimi case has progressed through France's court system to the point of a criminal referral. The Mendes case remains at the investigative stage in New Zealand, with no charges filed.

What Happens Next

New Zealand police have not indicated a timeline for a charging decision. The critical variable is the completion of forensic analysis. If charges are filed, Mendes would face proceedings in New Zealand regardless of where he is playing. The woman's complaint to FIFA remains unresolved, and FIFA has not stated whether or when it will respond. Cape Verde's Round of 32 match is their next scheduled fixture. Mendes remains listed as captain.