LONDON (AP)—Manchester City star Robinho claimed in a telephone call to Brazil coach Dunga that the 18-year-old woman accusing him of sexual assault is an opportunist.
The 25-year-old forward was released on bail by police after being questioned late Tuesday in Leeds, where the crime was alleged to have taken place early on Jan. 14. Robinho then played and starred in a 2-1 victory over Newcastle on Wednesday night.
“I don’t have any reason to doubt Robinho’s word,” Dunga said. “He’s a player I always could count on when I needed him.”
Dunga assured Robinho that there was no threat to his place on Brazil’s roster for an exhibition game against Italy on Feb. 10 in London.
“Robinho told Dunga that he’s a victim of an opportunist and that he has done everything necessary in the legal sense to clarify the matter, in which he had no participation,” the Brazilian Football Federation said on its Web site.
Robinho set up Shaun Wright-Phillips for the opening goal against Newcastle.
“Mentally he was in the right place. He was concentrating on the job in hand, and it was never any real doubt for me that he should play,” Manchester City manager Mark Hughes said.
Robinho has scored 12 goals since joining City from Real Madrid in September for a British record transfer fee of $62 million.
“He strenuously denies any allegation of wrongdoing or criminality and is happy to cooperate with the police if required further,” Robinho spokesman Chris Nathaniel said.
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