Manchester United await information to make decision on Antony

Manchester United will await the next updates on the accusation of domestic violence that striker Antony is targeting to make a decision on the future of the Brazilian at the club. The conduct, set out in a note on Wednesday, is a little more cautious than that adopted in the case of Mason Greenwood, the young promise of the English team who was sidelined for a year and a half after being accused of assault and sexual violence, before be loaned to Getafe last month.

“Manchester United is aware of the allegations made against Antony and notes that Police are conducting investigations,” the statement read. “Pending further information, the club will have no further comment. As a club, we are taking this matter seriously, taking into account the impact these allegations and subsequent allegations will have on victims of abuse.”

Unlike Antony, Greenwood was arrested for a few days in January and October 2022. The English striker was accused of harassment, rape and coercive behavior by a woman who shared photos and videos in which she appears with bruises. In February of this year, the UK Crown Public Prosecutor dropped the charges of attempted rape and harassment to which Greenwood was responding. Before, the agency had already discontinued other accusations, those related to allegations of controlling and coercive behavior.

Even with Justice taking the case off the agenda, United kept the player away and conducted an internal investigation to make a decision. The conclusion was that “material posted online did not provide the full picture and that Mason did not commit the crimes he was originally charged with”. The club also claims to have carried out the investigation respecting “the rights and perspectives of the alleged victim”.

So, it was decided that there would be no climate for the player to remain in the squad, not least because there was great pressure from part of the fans, especially women, against permanence. The situation culminated in the loan to Getafe. During the investigation period, he lost sponsorship contracts, such as the one he had with Nike, and was removed from the FIFA 2022 game.

the Antony case

Antony is being investigated by the São Paulo Civil Police for domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend, DJ and digital influencer Gabriela Cavallin, who denounced him in June. In a report published by the Uol website on Monday, the former companion revealed physical aggression and threats made by the 23-year-old player. After the repercussion of the report, the striker was recalled from the Brazilian national team by coach Fernando Diniz and ended up replaced by Gabriel Jesus, from Arsenal.

Cavallin reported being abused while pregnant with Antony and said she lost the baby weeks later. “He already said things like: ‘either I was going to stay with him or everyone was going to die’. Me, him and our son. And I said: ‘you know I’m pregnant, right? You’re scaring me’. One hour he was crying, another time hitting me. Definitely one of the worst days of my life”.

After filing a police report against Antony in June this year at the 5th Police Station for the Defense of Women, in Tatuapé, São Paulo, the DJ filed a new complaint in Manchester, England. The inquiry gathers images of an injury to Cavallin’s right hand, with the bones of the fingers exposed. Prints of conversations between her and the player also surfaced. In a statement, Antony stated “that the accusations are false, and that the evidence already produced and the others that will be produced demonstrate that I am innocent of the accusations made.”