Sponsors of Cristiano Ronaldo are thought to be weighing up whether to continue supporting the Juventus star as he becomes further embroiled in allegations of rape.
The Portuguese forward has been accused of raping American teacher Kathryn Mayorga in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009. whilst it has been claimed that a $375,000 out-of-court settlement was reached in 2010 to prevent the allegations from becoming public.
However, an investigation has been launched after Mayorga filed a lawsuit against the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star last week.
Although Ronaldo has vehemently denied this and has received the public backing of Juventus, key sponsors have confirmed that they are keeping a close watch as the situation unfolds.
“We are deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations and will continue to monitor the situation,” Nike declared in a statement on Thursday. The sportswear brand have partnered Ronaldo since 2003 and agreed a contract worth €870 million, according to the BBC.
Meanwhile, gaming giants EA Sports have also expressed concern, with the 33-year-old the face of their FIFA video game franchise.
“We have seen the concerning report that details allegations against Cristiano Ronaldo. We are closing monitoring the situation, as we expect cover athletes and ambassadors to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with EA’s values,” they told AP.
Similarly, Save the Children are reportedly ready to drop Ronaldo as an ambassador, with AP reporting that the NGO could cut ties with the Juventus star if the allegations prove to be true.
