After Greenwood, Antony is the next one accused of domestic violence

The Brazil star has been dropped from the national squad for World Cup qualifying games following the allegations by an ex-girlfriend. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said the player had been stood down in order to "preserve the alleged victim, the player, the Brazil team and the CBF". The 23-year-old denied physically assaulting Gabriela Cavallin in a statement on Instagram on Monday, stating he was the "victim of false accusations." It came after the Brazilian press published WhatsApp messages reputedly between Antony and Cavallin in which the player allegedly threatened his ex-partner. In one of the conversations cited by Brazilian media, Cavallin says he must apologise for "kicks and assaults". Antony then appears to reply, "Sorry" in response. Cavallin is also shown in one photo with an apparent head wound.

Antony 's ex-girlfriend accuses him of domestic violence

Just a few months before, in June 2023, she filed a police report against the Brazilian player from Manchester United for domestic violence, bodily injury and threat. The case was registered at the 5th Women's Police Station in Sao Paulo. She reported attacks by the Brazilian, and the first happened in July 2022, when he broke up with him in a nightclub in Sao Paolo. He then pulled her by her arm and hair and pushed her into a car with the help of security. She continued to date Antony again in August and moved with him, but the new attack happened, this time in January 2023, due to Antony's jealousy. Two more attacks followed, and Cavallin also claimed she was injured in one of them by the glass that Antony broke, but her phone was smashed by the player also so that she wouldn't ask for help. She even stated her friend as a witness in one of those attacks, but also Antony's mother. The Brazilian DJ fears for her life, as he apparently told her in May this year when he came to Brazil, that he would 'kill her' if he saw her with somebody else.

And now, all eyes are (again) on Manchester United and coach Erik ten Hag, who are expected to react just like Brazil's national team did. After the Greenwood affair, which just ended and it didn’t do any good to the Red Devils, the last thing they need now is another one, especially with a first-team player in the middle of a performance crisis. The Old Trafford club have so far lost both of their away games in the Premier League, while the wins at the home ground were shaky and full of VAR controversy. Antony joined United last year for an initial fee of 95 million euros but has struggled to perform consistently, scoring just eight goals in 48 games. United are likely to come under intense pressure to drop Antony while investigations take place.