Man United fan Rachel Riley hits out at Antony domestic abuse claims

Man United fan Rachel Riley hits out as £85m winger Antony is axed by Brazil over new domestic abuse claims – but club refuse to comment – after they loaned Mason Greenwood to Getafe

• Antony’s ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin alleges she was threatened several times
• The Manchester United forward has since been dropped from the Brazil squad
• Mason Greenwood was allowed to join Spanish side Getafe on loan on Friday 

Rachel Riley has called for domestic abuse experts to be involved in Manchester United’s ‘club processes’ after allegations emerged concerning a previous relationship of winger Antony’s. 

The Brazilian international’s ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin claims the 23-year-old threatened her while she was pregnant, damaged her breast implant, cut her finger with a glass and threatened to throw her out of a speeding car.

Antony responded to previous claims in June, denying the allegations, but has been dropped by the Brazil national team this week in order to ‘safeguard the alleged victim’. 

It comes just days after Mason Greenwood, who had charges of attempted rape and assault against him dropped in February by the Crown Prosecution Service, was allowed to join LaLiga side Getafe on loan after a six-month investigation.   

Riley was also outspoken against the notion of United reintegrating Greenwood into the squad after their investigation was completed, claiming that the club were ‘green-lighting abuse’ with their apparent support for the player. 

Manchester United fan and Countdown co-host Rachel Riley has called for domestic abuse experts to be involved in the club’s processes following allegations against Antony

Gabriela Cavallin has claimed that Antony attacked her while she was pregnant, and later left her with a broken finger and threatened her with a glass

The Brazilian was dropped by his country for their latest round of World Cup qualifiers

Now though, the Countdown co-host – a Manchester United fan – has taken to social media in reaction to the allegations against Antony, writing: ‘Is anyone doing any due diligence on these players?

‘Heinous stuff described in these accusations.

‘This time domestic abuse experts need to be involved in the club’s processes.’

There has been no action from the club since the allegations surfaced, however they may face some pressure to respond similarly to how they acted in the wake of the initial Greenwood allegations. 

The English forward was suspended by the club following his initial arrest for attempted rape and assault in January 2022, with Antony currently unsanctioned. 

Cavallin followed the player to Manchester when he joined United from Ajax for £85million, and after claiming an initial attack occurred in June last year, alleges that a second took place in January 2023, which left her with a dislodged breast implant and cut head. 

When he went to play for Brazil at the World Cup in Qatar, she tried to end the relationship for good but was unable to do so. 

Cavallin accused Antony of putting her in a car – while she was pregnant – and threatening to push her out of the vehicle at high speed when they were on holiday in Brazil in June 2022. 

Mason Greenwood was sent out on loan after Manchester United concluded a six-month internal investigation, with charges of attempted rape and assault dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February

Cavallin, a DJ and influencer, filed a police report in Brazil in June and then spoke out on TV

Cavallin said she needed stitches to her breast after Antony allegedly injured her

A later attack allegedly took place in May 2023, which left Cavallin with a cut finger after she claims to have defended herself amid threats from Antony with a glass. 

Cavallin has filed a complaint against Antony to Greater Manchester Police having originally alleged four incidents of domestic violence, bodily injury and threat to authorities in Sao Paulo in June.

She went into further detail with Brazilian website UOL on Monday, revealing WhatsApp screenshots and pictures of her injuries.

‘Antony locked the door of the house and wouldn’t let me go out, and I had my finger open, all hurt,’ Cavallin said, as per UOL Esporte.

‘He broke my things, took my passport. His mother and stepfather even trapped him inside the football court, he had a football court inside his living room, surrounded by a fence. 

‘He was upset, trying to get out of the court in any way, throwing a football at me, throwing a cell phone at me. He said he was going to kill me, that he was going to kill himself.’

The player responded last summer after allegations first arose with a statement, which read: ‘I can say with confidence that the accusations are false,’ he wrote on social media. 

‘My relationship with Ms Gabriela was tumultuous, with verbal offences from both sides, but I never practised any physical aggression. I trust the ongoing police investigations will reveal the truth about my innocence.’

Manchester United have so far declined to comment on the allegations against Antony.

Antony posted a statement in Portuguese on Instagram in June as he stressed his innocence

Riley is not the only United fan to speak out against the Brazilian and question the club’s actions in response to such allegations. 

The Female Fans Against Greenwood’s Return group wrote on social media: ‘The allegations against Antony are horrific and shows that clubs and football authorities need to step their game up in how they respond to these issues, because they’re going to keep happening. 

‘There need to be protocols in place that take decisions out of club hands as we know clubs are incapable of being objective and acting in the wider best interest in these cases. 

‘Charities and organisations which work to support both survivors and perpetrators of abuse need to be central to developing and advising on how to handle these cases and swifter action needs to be taken in cases where those working in football are arrested and charged for crimes of violence and abuse to protect and support both fans and their colleagues within their clubs/the wider football industry.’

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