Neymar calls Nike claim 'lie'
Neymar said Friday Nike's claim that it parted ways with him last year because he refused to cooperate with its internal investigation into an employee's accusation he sexually assaulted her was an "absurd lie."
The allegation is the latest to stain the image of the Brazilian superstar, whose 222-million-euro transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 makes him the world's most expensive footballer.
Nike said Thursday it had ended its sponsorship deal with Neymar over an employee's claim he tried to force himself on her and his failure to cooperate with its investigation.
"(To) state that my contract (with Nike) was terminated because I did not contribute in good faith to an investigation is an absurd lie," Neymar wrote on Instagram.
"I was not given the opportunity to defend myself. I was not given the opportunity to know who this person was that was allegedly offended. I don't even know her. I've never had any kind of relationship or approach with this person."
Nike said the alleged assault happened in 2016, but was only reported to the company in 2018.
The US sportswear giant had sponsored Neymar, 29, since he was a 13-year-old prodigy.
It did not give a reason when it terminated its deal with him in August 2020.
The superstar is now a poster boy for Puma. His deal with the German sportswear giant was announced in September 2020.
The Nike employee accused Neymar of trying to force her to perform oral sex on him in a New York hotel room during a promotional trip for a new line of sneakers, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first broke the story.
Neymar denied the accusation, and said Nike had nevertheless continued sending him on promotional tours.
"In 2017 I travelled again to the USA for another advertising campaign, with the same people, and nothing was told to me, nothing changed!" he wrote.
"In 2017, 2018, 2019 we made trips, advertising campaigns, and countless shooting sections. And they told me nothing. Such a serious matter and they did nothing."
In a previous statement, a Neymar spokeswoman said he and Nike had split for commercial reasons.
The player's father accused the company of "blackmail."
"It's all very strange" that the accusation only came to light years later, after Neymar left Nike, he told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.
Nike said in a statement it was prepared to investigate in 2018 when the woman first came forward, but "respected the employee's initial desire to keep this matter confidential and avoid an investigation."
The firm therefore did not go further until 2019, when she expressed an interest in pursuing the matter, it said.
That was the same year another woman filed a rape complaint against Neymar in his native Brazil.
He vehemently denied that accusation, and the case was eventually dropped.
Neymar is currently in Brazil training with the national team north of Rio de Janeiro ahead of two upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The superstar seemed "normal, the same as always," teammate Emerson told a news conference.
Neymar extended his contract with French champions PSG earlier this month, through the 2024-2025 season.
With his on-pitch exploits and huge following on social media, Neymar is one of the biggest names in sports.
But his shine has often been tarnished.
His image as an eternal spoiled child was revived late last year by rumors of a huge year-end party he organized in Brazil in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
He has also raised eyebrows with his alleged diving, hard-partying lifestyle and love of bling, which critics say contrasts with the relative lack of it in his trophy case.
相关文章
- 驿站备有消暑物品供大家取用本报讯8月25日中午,烈日当头,热浪滚滚。环卫工人王芳走进雨城区青江街道汉碑路社区户外劳动服务站点汉驿站,从冰箱里拿出当天的午饭。“我一上午都在马路两侧来回保洁,中午到驿站休2024-09-23
Titmus clinches freestyle treble at Commonwealths
BIRMINGHAM:Australian swim star Ariarne Titmus completed a stunning individual freestyle treble at t2024-09-23Clinton underscores 'power of allies,' warns of dangers of Trump
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said Thursday the United States is stronger and sa2024-09-23Facebook updates Stories to complete its Snapchat domination
For Facebook, the future is all about Stories. At F8, the company shared the surprising revelation t2024-09-23How 3D Game Rendering Works: Texturing
In this third part of our deeper look at 3D game rendering, we'll be focusing what can happen to the2024-09-23North Korea intensifies antivirus efforts in Pyongyang after border town's lockdown
People wearing face masks walk away after paying their respects before a sculpture entitled "Victory2024-09-23
最新评论