The City of Manchester police are looking into allegations that Manchester United and Brazil player Antony attacked his ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin in a hotel room and subsequently threatened to kill her. Antony has since denied the allegations against him but has been dropped from the Brazil squad as the international break continues. Manchester United have been warned that policies need to be put in place for when domestic abuse allegations are made against footballers. 

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Women's Aid have issued a statement warning top sporting clubs of the consequences of domestic abuse if action is not taken when allegations arise. In their statement, they said: “Domestic abuse is prevalent in our society and all employers, including football clubs, need clear policies and procedures about what to do when allegations are made against an employee. When the alleged perpetrator is a high-profile footballer, we know from survivors of domestic abuse that has an impact on both football fans and wider society, who see them playing and celebrated on the pitch as a sign that the allegations are not being taken seriously by the club. Safeguarding is vital in these cases, to ensure the safety of everyone involved while proceedings are ongoing." 

Manchester United have also released a statement concerning the matter saying: “As a club we are taking this matter seriously, with consideration of the impact of these allegations and subsequent reporting will have on survivors of abuse.” The English powerhouse have previously come into criticism for their handling on Mason Greenwood's legal saga who was facing attempted rape and assault charges. After they had conducted a six-month internal investigation on the aforementioned matter, the Red Devils found the forward to be innocent but reached an amicable agreement with Greenwood that it was in the best interest of both parties that the player leaves the club and has a fresh start elsewhere. Manchester United's intention, however, was to reignite the player back into the squad but they made a U-turn after the decision faced backlash from a huge portion of their fans with some even threatening to drop their support for the club if the England international was to get back in play donning a Red Devil's shirt. Mason Greenwood has since completed a loan move to La Liga team Getafe. It is yet to be seen how far the new allegations meted on Antony will go and what course of action the club will take on the player as the investigations continue to determine whether Gabriela Cavallin is telling the truth or not.

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(Image: Sky Sports)