OGUN, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- A number of football players have recently been charged with violent crimes including assault and rape, which has damaged the sport’s image. Football players become well-known for their on-field mishaps, but see which players’ reputations were damaged by serious off-field mishaps.
Interestingly, these are the only players whose identities were made public. Numerous football players have been charged with assault. Because investigation is still ongoing their names have not been made public.
Adam Johnson, Former Manchester City and Sunderland midfielder spent five years in jail after being found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl in March 2016.
The Englishman was sacked from Sunderland and stripped of his sponsorship deal with Adidas. He was released in 2021 and is reportedly living a luxurious life since due to his investments
Diego Maradona
It was claimed that Maradona was connected to two rape cases. In 2017, during the Confederations Cup final in Saint-Petersburg, Maradona was accused of sexually assaulting Ekaterina Nadolska, a journalist.
Nadolska wanted to speak with him at first, but she said she was raped by Maradona and was unable to get away from him.
During the 2017 Confederations Cup final, former football star Diego Maradona made a stop at one of the most fashionable hotels in the cultural capital. Journalist Ekaterina Nadolska paid him a visit.
The girl even had their photo shot with an Argentinian and intended to post it on social media, taking the idol of millions of interviews with them. But Catherine said the following morning that Maradona had wanted her, and she had barely escaped.
Wayne Rooney
Former England star forward, He was exposed in the media for reportedly cheating on his pregnant wife Coleen with a 52-year-old grandmother and with two other £1,000-a-night prostitutes.
READ ALSO: Dani Alves Jailed Over Sexual Assault
Graham Rix
Graham Rix was convicted of raping a friend’s 15-year-old daughter. Graham Cyril Rix, born 23 October 1957, is an English former professional football player who later became a manager.
Rix, a football coach who plied a 15-year-old with drink and then had sex with her several times, was sent down for six months.
Rix, the former football coach and former England international, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment after admitting two charges of unlawful sex with a 15-year-old girl and indecently assaulting her.
Benjamin Mendy
Once a marquee buy of Manchester City, Benjamin Mendy has seen his reputation and career go down the drain as the details of his encounters with women surfaced last year. The left-back has been charged with seven counts of rape of four women, along with one count of sexual assault. He was released on bail recently after being in custody for 134 days. He has been suspended by the club.
READ ALSO: Sexual Assault: Dani Alves Unable To Leave Prison As Spanish Court Declares Him A “Flight Risk”
Ched Evans
The former striker for Sheffield United was accused of raping a drunken 19-year-old female. Evans was freed from prison in 2014 after serving a five-year sentence, and he joined Chesterfield of League One.
Mason Greenwood
Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood has become the latest, and probably the biggest name to come under fire for the rape and assault of his ex-girlfriend.
Greenwood was outed when his ex-girlfriend posted stories on her Instagram, showing signs of abuse on her body, along with distressing audio of Greenwood coercing her.
A statement said: “Following a hearing Thursday 23 June 2022, a 20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of rape, assault and making threats to kill on Sunday 30 January 2022 remains on bail.
Greenwood has disappeared from the public eye and the fallout of his allegations is still being dealt with by Manchester United.
Dani Alves
Dani Alves has just been charged and sentenced to jail for Sexual Assault.
The alleged act took place on the night of December 31 in Barcelona. After being arrested by the police, a case was lodged against the full-back. On February 22, 2024, he was found guilty of the charge.