Antony, Manchester United‘s winger, has been excluded from Brazil’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches on Monday due to allegations of assault by his former girlfriend.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) explained in a statement that Antony had been temporarily removed to ‘preserve the alleged victim, the player, the Brazil team and the CBF.’
The Brazilian team has named Arsenal’s forward, Gabriel Jesus, as the replacement for Antony in the matches against Bolivia on September 8 and Peru on September 12.
Antony, aged 23, defended himself against allegations of physical assault by his ex-girlfriend, Gabriela Cavallin, in an Instagram post on Monday, asserting that he is a ‘victim of false accusations.’
‘I can calmly affirm that the accusations are false, and that evidence already produced and that will be produced will show that I am innocent,’ Antony said.
The disclaimer came after Brazilian press reports released a WhatsApp conversation purportedly between Antony and Cavallin in which the player allegedly threatened his ex-partner.
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Local media reported that in one of the conversations, Cavallin mentioned that Antony needed to apologize for ‘kicks and assaults.’
Antony seems to have replied with a simple ‘sorry.’
There is also a photograph where Cavallin is shown with an evident head injury.
Antony said in his Instagram post that his relationship with Cavallin was ‘tumultuous, with verbal abuse on both sides.’
However, he denied assaulting her. ‘I never practiced physical aggression,’ he said.
‘At each moment, she presents a different version of the accusations,’ Antony added.
‘I am confident that the ongoing police investigations will prove the truth,’ he concluded.
For now, he will be sidelined from the Brazilian team until all investigations have been wrapped up.