Soccer Great Ronaldo Goes Into Hiding After Encounter With Cross Dressing Prostitutes
Posted April 29, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ronaldo went into hiding Tuesday in Sao Paolo after a run-in with cross-dressing prostitutes that prompted police to investigate whether to charge one of them with trying to extort money from the three-time FIFA player of the year.
He cancelled two TV appearances and local media said he will continue physiotherapy at his home.
Police said Ronaldo committed no crime, but he was accused by one prostitute of using drugs and not wanting to pay.
Prostitution is legal in Brazil.
“It is necessary to clarify that no formal accusations were made against Ronaldo,” read a statement on the player’s website. “An advocate of social causes, Ronaldo has never used drugs and has always been admired by children in Brazil and around the world. There are indications of an extortion attempt in which the Milan striker is the only victim.”
The statement added that Ronaldo may take legal action if necessary.
The Associated Press e-mailed Ronaldo’s spokesman Tuesday seeking further comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Ronaldo told police he knew they were prostitutes but did not realize they were cross-dressers until getting to a motel. That is where Ronaldo says one of them tried to extort money from him to hide the story from the media.
Police were still investigating, but inspector Carlos Augusto Nogueira said late Monday that he believed Ronaldo’s version.
He said one of the prostitutes “fled” from the police station during questioning. Nogueira also said there was no evidence drugs were involved in the incident.
Ronaldo and the prostitutes were only interviewed by police and voluntarily went to the police station.
The striker told police he offered to pay the prostitutes 1,000 reals (C$600) each to end the incident, but before he left one asked for 50,000 reals (C$30,000) to hide the story from the media.
The case made front-page headlines in several Brazilian newspapers on Tuesday.
“Phenomenal controversy,” read a headline on the Lance sports daily.
“Ronaldo ends in police station after altercation with transvestites,” said the Folha de S. Paulo, Brazil’s largest newspaper.
A brief video clip of Ronaldo at the motel apparently recorded by one of the prostitutes with a cellphone became a big hit in Brazil after being posted on the YouTube website.
Local media said the player may face further questioning by police next week.
Ronaldo reportedly was celebrating Flamengo’s 1-0 victory over rival Botafogo in the first leg of the Rio de Janeiro state final that he attended at Maracana stadium on Sunday. Ronaldo is a fan of Flamengo and has said he wants to play for the Brazilian club before retiring.
The player told reporters during the match that he could return to play in six months if his recovery continues as planned.
Ronaldo has won two World Cups with Brazil, including the tournament in 2002 when he scored eight goals, including two in the final against Germany.
Photo credit: Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty Images
