Cristiano Ronaldo brands rape allegations an attempt to ‘destroy his reputation’ and claims cyber-criminal fabricated stolen documents
The £100million forward issued a blistering statement after saying he 'compelled to no longer stand silent' after Kathryn Mayorga accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2009
CRISTIANO Ronaldo sensationally claimed that a cyber-criminal had fabricated stolen documents to make him look guilty of rape.
His lawyer Peter Christiansen said paperwork published by German magazine Der Spiegel had been hacked from computers and altered.
Ronaldo, 33, denies attacking Kathryn Mayorga in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009 and maintains sex was consensual.
American Mr Christiansen said the Portuguese forward faced “an elaborate and deliberate defamation campaign based on stolen, easily manipulated digital documents”.
He added: “It is my understanding that in 2015, dozens of entities (including law firms) across many different industries throughout Europe were hacked and their electronic data was stolen.
“This hacker attempted to sell this data and one media outlet has now irresponsibly published the stolen documents, significant portions of which were altered and/or completely fabricated.”
Ronaldo has branded rape allegations against him as an attempt to destroy a reputation "built on hard work, athleticism and honour".
The £100million forward issued a blistering statement after saying he "compelled to no longer stand silent" after Kathryn Mayorga accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2009.
Accuser Kathryn, 34, says the incident took place at the Palms Casino Resort in June 2009, while Ronaldo, 33, celebrated his big money move to Real Madrid.
The former Manchester United star used a team of fixers – agents, lawyers and private investigators – to thrash out a £287,000 settlement with Ms Mayorga in 2010.
But the teacher now claims she only signed because she was “terrified of retaliation” from the player and her lawyers are now suing Ronaldo.
He says the motivations for signing the resolution "have been twisted to say the least" and labels the accusations as part of an "elaborate and deliberate defamation campaign".
Mr Christiansen admitted for the first time that the former Manchester United idol had signed a non-disclosure agreement with Ms Mayorga.
He stressed that the reported £287,000 deal in 2010 was “by no means a confession of guilt” but to avoid attempts to destroy a reputation “built on hard work, athleticism and honour”.
Video footage has also emerged of Ronaldo, who now plays for Italian giants Juventus, relaxing by a hotel pool on the day of the alleged rape.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has re-opened its investigation into the alleged rape.
But Ronaldo firmly denies the claims of sexual misconduct and said he is "confident that the truth will survive this frenzy".
In the statement the lawyer representing Ronaldo states: "What occurred in 2009 in Las Vegas was consensual in nature.
"Mr Ronaldo was advised to privately resolve the allegation against him in order to avoid the inevitable attempts that are now being made to destroy a reputation that has been built upon hard work, athleticism and honour."
The statement comes as lawyers for his accuser say they are probing three more claims surrounding the footie star.
One woman is said to claim she was raped by Ronaldo after a party.
Cristiano Ronaldo statement in full
I have been hired to represent Cristiano Ronaldo with respect to the recent civil complaint arising from events alleged to have occurred in 2009, all of which were the subject of a mutual release between the parties in 2010.
Given the breach of that agreement by the other side and the inflammatory accusations that have been lodged in the ensuing days as a result, Mr Ronaldo feels compelled to no longer stand silent and in fact, is entitled under the agreement to respond proportionately in kind.
To be clear, Cristiano Ronaldo vehemently denies all the accusations in this civil action, in consistency with what he has done in the last nine years.
The documents that allegedly contain statements by Mr. Ronaldo and were reproduced in the media are pure inventions.
By 2015, dozens of entities (including law firms) in different parts of Europe were attacked and their electronic data stolen by a cybercriminal.
This hacker tried to sell such information, and a media outlet irresponsibly ended up publishing some of the stolen documents, significant parts of which were altered and / or completely fabricated. Once again, for the avoidance of doubt, Cristiano Ronaldo's position has always been, and continues to be, that what happened in 2009 in Las Vegas was completely consensual.
Cristiano Ronaldo does not deny that he agreed to enter into an agreement, but the reasons that led him to do so are at least to be distorted. This agreement is by no means a confession of guilt. What happened was simply that Cristiano Ronaldo merely followed the advice of his advisors in order to put an end to the outrageous accusations made against him, in order precisely to avoid attempts, such as those we are now witnessing, to destroy a reputation built thanks to hard work, athletic ability and behavioral correction. Unfortunately, it is now involved in the type of litigation that is very common in the United States.
While Cristiano Ronaldo is accustomed to being the subject of media attention that goes along with being famous, it is absolutely deplorable that any media outlet would support or advance such an elaborate and deliberate defamation campaign based on stolen, easily manipulated digital documents.
Mr Ronaldo will leave future discussions of any and all legal matters to his attorneys here and in Europe. He is confident that the truth will survive this frenzy and the laws of Nevada will be upheld and enforced.
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Another accuser says she was “hurt by Ronaldo” and a third is reported to have entered into a non-disclosure agreement with the footballer in 2009, like model Kathryn Mayorga.
It is unclear whether the second and third women are claiming sexual misconduct by Juventus ace Ronaldo, 33, who has denied Ms Mayorga’s claim.
The player is being backed by his club Juventus – who put out a statement in support of their star signing.
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