Cristiano Ronaldo sexual assault case recommended for dismissal by US civil court

A United States court has recommended that a civil case in relation to an allegation of sexual assault against the Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo is dismissed.

Kathryn Mayorga claimed she was raped by Ronaldo in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009. In 2019, US prosecutors said Ronaldo – who strenuously denied the claims – would not face criminal charges.

Mayorga subsequently pursued a civil case against Ronaldo but a Las Vegas court has now ruled that the historic accusations should be thrown out.

Mayorga’s lawyers could yet object to the court’s recommendation for dismissal and have 14 days to do so.

Ronaldo’s lawyer, Peter S Christiansen, said: “We are pleased with the Court’s detailed review of this matter and its willingness to justly apply the law to the facts and recommend dismissal of the civil case against Mr Ronaldo.”

Ronaldo has always maintained his relations with Mayorga, then 25 and a model, were consensual. Mayorga reportedly reached an out-of-court settlement with Ronaldo in 2010, involving a $375,000 payment for agreeing never to publicise the allegations.

Ronaldo’s lawyers said the non-disclosure agreement was “by no means a confession of guilt” and the player was following advice “to put an end to the outrageous accusations made against him”. In 2018, Mayorga sought to reopen the case, with her lawyer saying she had been inspired by the #MeToo movement against sexual violence.