A charity has warned Manchester United to respond appropriately to the allegations of domestic violence made against their 23-year-old winger Antony.
End Violence Against Women, a UK organisation made up of 143 specialist women’s support services, warned the football club that ‘the world is watching’ in an exclusive statement to Mail Sport on Tuesday.
Antony was dropped from Brazil’s international squad on Tuesday morning for ‘safeguarding reasons’ after his ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin alleged that he threatened her while she was pregnant, damaged her breast implant, cut her finger with a glass and threatened to throw her out of a speeding car.
Manchester United sparked controversy earlier this summer having initially planned to reintegrate Mason Greenwood into the Red Devils squad following a six-month internal investigation into his dropped charges of attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.
Greenwood, whose case was dropped in February after ‘key witnesses’ withdrew from the case, joined Getafe on loan on deadline day after Manchester United reportedly reversed their initial decision and revealed that the forward would never play for the club again.
‘The world is watching’: A charity has warned Manchester United to respond appropriately to the allegations of domestic violence made against their 23-year-old winger Antony (above)
Antony was removed from Brazil’s international squad on Tuesday after his ex-partner accused him of threatening her while pregnant, damaging breast implants and cutting her finger
The DJ and influencer Gabriela Cavallin has made several allegations against her ex-girlfriend
The Red Devils, who now have more domestic violence and abuse allegations to respond to, have yet to comment on the claims made against Antony.
End Violence Against Women Coalition director Andrea Simon has urged the Premier League and FA to take ‘meaningful action’ in a statement to Mail Sport.
‘The world is watching Manchester United to see how one of the biggest clubs responds to these latest reports of domestic abuse,’ she said.
‘We once again call on the Premier League and FA to take meaningful action as it is clear that these are not incidents they can take in isolation, but part of a pattern of behaviour within a culture that enables footballers to perpetrate violence against women with impunity.’
A spokesperson for Women’s Aid also told Mail Sport in a statement on Tuesday: ‘Domestic abuse is prevalent in our society and all employers, including football clubs, need clear policies and procedures about what to do when allegations are made against an employee.
‘When the alleged perpetrator is a high profile footballer, we know from survivors of domestic abuse that has an impact on both football fans and wider society, who see them playing and celebrated on the pitch as a sign that the allegations are not being taken seriously by the club.
The claims against Antony come in the wake of Man United’s handling of Mason Greenwood
Greenwood was sent out on loan to Getafe after United concluded a six-month internal probe into his dropped charges of attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour
United CEO Richard Arnold was reportedly ready to welcome Greenwood back into the fold
‘Safeguarding is vital in these cases, to ensure the safety of everyone involved while proceedings are ongoing.’
Tracy Blackwell, director of strategic insights and partnerships at refuge, added: ‘Refuge is deeply concerned by the number of domestic abuse allegations involving high profile sports figures, such as footballers, that have been emerging in the media over the last few months, and the responses that clubs have had to these.
‘Powerful men so often use their status and their wealth to silence women. It is important that the FA, Premier League, and clubs make it clear to their fans, that they do not condone any forms of violence against women and girls.
‘Domestic abuse is a crime and should be treated as such. Swift action needs to be taken to adopt a zero-tolerance policy to abuse and address this culture of violence against women and girls within football.’
Countdown cohost and avid Red Devils fan Rachel Riley has called for domestic abuse experts to be involved in Manchester United’s ‘club processes’ in the wake of the allegations made against Antony.
Riley last month claimed that the Old Trafford chiefs were ‘green-lighting abuse’ after Manchester United CEO Richard Arnold reportedly planned to welcome Greenwood back into Erik ten Hag‘s squad.
She has since taken to social media in reaction to the allegations against Antony, writing: ‘Is anyone doing any due diligence on these players? Heinous stuff described in these accusations.
‘This time domestic abuse experts need to be involved in the club’s processes.’
Antony responded to previous claims of domestic violence in June, denying the allegations, but has now been dropped by the Brazil national team this week in order to ‘safeguard the alleged victim’.
United’s Antony remains under police investigation in Brazil but denies the abuse allegations
Manchester United fan and Countdown co-host Rachel Riley has called for domestic abuse experts to be involved in the club’s processes following allegations against Antony
Unlike Greenwood, who was suspended for 18-months by Manchester United, the Brazilian forward remains currently unsanctioned.
Cavallin followed Antony to Manchester when he joined from Ajax for £85million and, after claiming an initial attack occurred in June last year, alleges that a second took place in January 2023, which left her with a dislodged breast implant and cut head.
When he went to play for Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar last December, she tried to end the relationship for good but was unable to do so.
Cavallin accused Antony of putting her in a car while she was pregnant and threatening to push her out of the vehicle at high speed when they were on holiday in Brazil in June 2022.
A later attack allegedly took place in May 2023, which left Cavallin with a cut finger after she claims to have defended herself amid threats from Antony with a glass.
Cavallin has filed a complaint against Antony to Greater Manchester Police having originally alleged four incidents of domestic violence, bodily injury and threat to authorities in Sao Paulo in June.
She went into further detail with Brazilian website UOL on Monday, revealing WhatsApp screenshots and pictures 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 told UOL Esporte.
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 breast after the Red Devils star allegedly injured her
‘He broke my things, took my passport. His mother and stepfather even trapped him inside the football court, he had a football court inside his living room, surrounded by a fence.
Antony, 23, issued a statement on Monday night denying the allegations.
‘I can say with confidence that the accusations are false,’ he wrote on social media.
‘My relationship with Ms Gabriela was tumultuous, with verbal offences from both sides, but I never practised any physical aggression. I trust the ongoing police investigations will reveal the truth about my innocence.’
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
Mail Online
