Domestic abuse campaigners urge Man United to ditch Antony after claims he assaulted ex-girlfriend
Domestic abuse activists have urged Manchester United to ditch star Antony as he was accused of assaulting a girlfriend.
The £85m winger has been sacked by the Brazil national team after the woman went to the police – but the Premier League club have remained silent.
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The latest row came after United were forced into an about-face after Mason Greenwood returned to the first-team after charges of attempted rape and assault were dropped.
Countdown star and fan Rachel Riley – who spoke out against the Greenwood situation – said: “Is anyone doing due diligence on these players?”
“This time, domestic violence experts need to be involved in the club’s processes.”
Antony, 23, is said to have attacked then-girlfriend DJ Gabriela Cavallin in a Manchester hotel on January 15 – a day after United beat Man City 2-1.
She said she sustained a head injury and damage to a breast implant.
She also claims he attacked her in Brazil last June when she was pregnant.
The police in Manchester and Sao Paulo are investigating.
United have not commented and campaigners said the club cannot be trusted to investigate the claims, as was the case with Greenwood.
David Challen, whose mother Sally killed her abusive husband, said: “Man United need to drop the player and turn the investigation over to an independent body.”
The advocacy group Female Fans Against Greenwood’s Return also wrote: “The allegations against Antony are appalling and show that clubs and football authorities need to step up their response to these issues.”
“Protocols need to be in place that take decisions out of the hands of clubs as we know clubs are incapable of being objective and acting in the best interest of the general public.”
Antony’s current partner Rosilene Silva was spotted getting a suitcase from his villa in Hale, Cheshire.
Ms. Silva, who gave birth to her child in 2019, did not comment on the allegations.
Antony, who signed from Ajax last year, has denied the claims.
He said: “My relationship with Ms. Gabriela was turbulent, with verbal abuse from both sides, but I never committed physical aggression.”
He played for United at Arsenal on Sunday but Brazil have now sacked him for the World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru.
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How to get help
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Keep your phone close at all times.
- Contact charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat hotline and services like SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarize yourself with the Silent Solution, where you report abuse without speaking on the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Carry some money with you at all times, including change for a phone or bus ticket.
- If you suspect your partner is going to attack you, try moving to a lower-risk area of the house—for example, where there is an exit and access to a phone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage where there may be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you could be trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you could be trapped in a closet or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, SupportLine is available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is available weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid offers a live chat service – available on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You can also call the 24-hour toll-free Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247.