Chile footballer Vidal cleared of suspicion in sexual assault case
CHILEAN football star Arturo Vidal has been cleared of suspicion of sexual assault, prosecutors said Friday, adding that the complaint made by a woman over a party at a Santiago night club had been dismissed.
The woman accused Vidal, 37, and other players from his first-division Colo Colo side of sexual assault at a club, where the footballers were celebrating a birthday on November 4.
'We were able to reconstitute the events of that day and, ultimately, there is no evidence to support charges,' prosecutor Felipe Cembrano said in a video sent to the media.
Other unnamed members of Vidal's team remain under investigation, however.
Former Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Inter Milan midfielder Vidal returned last year to Colo Colo, where he started his career at 17.
He was part of the so-called 'Golden Generation' that led Chile to victory in the 2015 Copa America. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Ancelotti Eyes Raphinha to Boost Brazil's Attack vs Paraguay
BRAZIL coach Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful Raphinha will help sharpen his team's attack when they face Paraguay at home, the Italian said after blaming poor pitch conditions for Thursday's goalless draw with Ecuador. Ancelotti's much-anticipated debut as Brazil manager ended in frustration, as his side laboured to a goalless draw against Sebastian Beccacece's Ecuador in Guayaquil, where they were second best for large stretches, despite their wealth of talent. "I think the pitch conditions here made it a bit tricky to play a more intricate game from the back. It was harder to control the ball," Ancelotti told reporters after the match. "That said, we had two very good chances, with Vinicius Jr, with Casemiro in the second half. Yes, we could've done better in attack, but you've also got to take into account the strength of the opponent. "Ecuador played a very good game, just as we did... The journeys here are really long, that takes its toll a bit." The Italian manager, appointed last month, is under considerable pressure as he faces the tough task of guiding the five-times world champions Brazil back to form. The top six teams qualify directly for next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Brazil remain in fourth place with 22 points in the continental standings. They face Paraguay on Tuesday in Sao Paulo, where Barcelona winger Raphinha is set to feature after missing the match in Ecuador. "There's room to improve, of course... I'm sure we'll improve in attack too, because today we were missing a very important player. That's Raphinha, who will be back, Ancelotti added. "I think the match against Paraguay will be different, because we will have more opportunity to control the game. We will need to play at a higher tempo, with more movement, more intensity. "I think the quality of the players is very high, so even if we don't have much time to work, we have still got that potential."
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Ancelotti hopes Raphinha will lift Brazil's attack against Paraguay
BRAZIL coach Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful Raphinha will help sharpen his team's attack when they face Paraguay at home, the Italian said after blaming poor pitch conditions for Thursday's goalless draw with Ecuador. Ancelotti's much-anticipated debut as Brazil manager ended in frustration, as his side laboured to a goalless draw against Sebastian Beccacece's Ecuador in Guayaquil, where they were second best for large stretches, despite their wealth of talent. "I think the pitch conditions here made it a bit tricky to play a more intricate game from the back. It was harder to control the ball," Ancelotti told reporters after the match. "That said, we had two very good chances, with Vinicius Jr, with Casemiro in the second half. Yes, we could've done better in attack, but you've also got to take into account the strength of the opponent. "Ecuador played a very good game, just as we did... The journeys here are really long, that takes its toll a bit." The Italian manager, appointed last month, is under considerable pressure as he faces the tough task of guiding the five-times world champions Brazil back to form. The top six teams qualify directly for next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Brazil remain in fourth place with 22 points in the continental standings. They face Paraguay on Tuesday in Sao Paulo, where Barcelona winger Raphinha is set to feature after missing the match in Ecuador. "There's room to improve, of course... I'm sure we'll improve in attack too, because today we were missing a very important player. That's Raphinha, who will be back, Ancelotti added. "I think the match against Paraguay will be different, because we will have more opportunity to control the game. We will need to play at a higher tempo, with more movement, more intensity. "I think the quality of the players is very high, so even if we don't have much time to work, we have still got that potential."
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Yamal Boosts Ballon d'Or Bid with Double vs France
LAMINE Yamal's match-winning performance against France in the semi-finals of the Nations League on Thursday has underlined his Ballon d'Or credentials, said Spain manager Luis de la Fuente. The 17-year-old Barcelona sensation lifted Spain to a thrilling 5-4 win over France by scoring twice, which sent the holders through to their third successive Nations League final where they will face Iberian neighbours Portugal. The contest to lift the prestigious golden ball trophy in September is widely seen as one between Yamal and France forward Ousmane Dembele, with both playing crucial roles for their clubs and countries this season. "Yamal has made a statement tonight and shown that he should win the Ballon d'Or," De la Fuente told broadcaster RTVE. "He's the best player in the world and, in my opinion, of course, he deserves to win the Ballon d'Or." The 28-year-old Dembele, a former Barcelona man, can boast of the Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup and French Super Cup titles this campaign, while Yamal has LaLiga, Spanish Cup and Spanish Super Cup to his name. "I always say the same thing to mum, that I try to give my all," Yamal said. "That is what motivates me and what gets me up in the morning. It is why I play football. It's always best to speak on the pitch. "Dembele is a great player, we saw that in the Champions League, but I am happy that we're the ones in the final." The nominees for the 2025 edition of the Ballon d'Or award, which covers August 1-July 31, will be announced at the start of August, with the ceremony taking place on September 22.
