Sport

Two women more come out to accuse Manchester United winger Antony of assault

United really struggling to keep their side of the street clean at the minute.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 8th September 2023

A further two women have come out to accuse Manchester United star Antony of assault as pressure is mounting on the club to suspend the player.

Following a fresh batch of allegations made by ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin earlier this week, the Man United winger is now being investigated by both Brazilian authorities and Greater Manchester Police and has been subsequently withdrawn by his national team until the case has been resolved.

While Cavallin first made her claims back in June, with Antony insisting his innocence throughout, another two women have now spoken out against the 23-year-old, alleging that they were assaulted by the former Ajax player in the past 12 months or so.

As per various outlets in his home country, Rayssa de Freitas, an influencer and law student, claims she was left injured after being assaulted by Antony and another woman in May 2022. Brazilian newspaper Extra reported that De Freitas went to Sao Paulo Police at the time and even required hospital treatment.

The third woman to speak out is 33-year-old Ingrid Lana, a banker who claimed in a recent television interview with journalist Roberto Cabrini — the same man who spoke with Cavallin on Record TV earlier this year — that she was pressured by Antony to have sex while on a business trip to England last year.

ADVERTISEMENT
Gabriela Cavallin Antony assault
Gabriela Cavallin broke her silence in June
more women accuse antony of assault
Ingrid Lana gave a similar interview this week
Credit: Record TV

Lana alleged that Antony invited her to his home and ended up pushing her against a wall which resulted in her banging her head.

“He tried to have a [sexual] relationship with me and I didn’t want to”, she claimed, adding, “He pushed me against the wall and I hit my head. My purpose was just business. Arriving there at his invitation, I realised he had ulterior motives.”

ADVERTISEMENT

With three different women now alleging similar inappropriate and often violent behaviour from the Brazil international, United were led to release a statement assuring that they are taking the investigation into consideration but are still being criticised for as yet refusing to suspend him from the squad.

This comes in what has been a terrible few months of publicity for the club, with not only Mason Greenwood‘s long drawn-out controversy having loomed large over Old Trafford but, most recently, the shocking revelation that they invited a convicted paedophile to a women’s game last season.

The news broke on the same day two more women came out to accuse Antony.

Read more:

Man United are yet to release an updated response to the latest claims and have already insisted they will make “no further comments” until the investigation reaches its conclusion, but it’s safe to say they’ll be keen to avoid further damage to their reputation which has taken a beating of late.

ADVERTISEMENT

As for Antony, it is understood that he is still denying the allegations levelled against him despite admitting, at least in the case of his former partner Cavallin, that there was “verbal abuse on both sides”.

Nevertheless, the online group Female Fans Against Mason Greenwood’s Return have also expressed their dismay at the club’s failure to act as another member of the squad’s conduct has once again been called into question.

Issuing a lengthy statement on social media, they said 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”, adding that “there need to be protocols in place that take decisions out of club hands…”

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — Antony (via Instagram)/Record TV

Sport

Lemn Sissay OBE pens powerful poem about Manchester City for Black History Month

Danny Jones Danny Jones Lemn Sissay MBE Man City poem

Lauded local poet Lemn Sissay MBE has penned a moving poem in collaboration with Manchester City, looking back on the club’s cultural past and key persons of colour for Black History Month.

Born in Orrell in the borough of Wigan, the published author, playwright, and BAFTA-nominated broadcaster has made a name as one of our region’s most notable wordsmiths, so it’s no wonder that he was selected by the Cityzens to touch on this particular topic.

Sissay, also a former Chancellor of the University of Manchester from 2015 until 2022, was the first Black Writers Development Worker in the North and was awarded an OBE for his service to literature back in 2010.

Teaming up not only with Man City but the club’s first-ever Black footballer, Stan Horne, as well as other senior stars from the Maine Road days, all the way up to the modern Etihad era.

‘The Stadium Speaks’ by Lemn Sissay – a poem commissioned by Manchester City for Black History Month 2025

Entitled The Stadium Speaks, the public reading of the verses runs for just under two minutes, but even in the relatively short space of time, there is so much power in this poignant poem.

Roping in help from other past players like Nedum Onuoha, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Shaun Goater, as well as current stars like Ruben Dias, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Jeremy Doku, each line leaves just as much impact as the last.

Just as importantly, they were also joined by Jahmal Williams-Thomas, City Matters’ Black and Mixed Heritage representative, Bing Findlater – the Official Supporter Club’s Equality and Inclusion Lead, as well as several other City fans and staff who work throughout the Eithad Campus.

Each individual who lends themselves to the performance delivers their part perfectly and from the heart; after all, Black culture isn’t something strictly celebrated during the month of October, but throughout communities all year round – as it should be.

Sissay, 58, clearly relished the chance to dive into how Greater Manchester‘s history intersects with not only football, but racism, equality, progress and more.

Speaking via a statement on the club website: “Manchester felt like home to me, the moment I stepped foot across the boundary. I came here very early on, when I think I was 13, I came to see Manchester City play. The first time I came to this city was to see City.

“I want the poem to be owned by the person who’s in the stand watching the game. And I wanted the poem to be owned by the person on the pitch who’s playing it. And I want them to feel proud reading it.”

The post goes on to reiterate that just like all teams throughout the football pyramid, racism and discrimination in all its forms should not and WILL not be tolerated.

Asking supporters to step up and speak as and when needed, City fans can report abuse and/or inappropriate behaviour to 07700151894, which will make security aware of what has been witnessed.  

Feedback can also be shared anonymously by texting the specific block, row, seat number and a short description of the incident to the number; if in doubt, talk to a steward or police officer at the game.

Elsewhere, the official MCFC Supporter Charter sets out their zero-tolerance policy when it comes to discrimination, and fans can also report online discriminatory abuse they see targeted at Premier League players, managers, coaches, match officials and their families directly HERE.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Philosophy Football (via Flickr)/Manchester City

Sport

Salford City set to reverse kit colour following clear-cut fan vote

Danny Jones Danny Jones Salford City FC reverting footy kit colour back to orange after fan vote

Salford City FC are set to make a historic change, or rather turn back time, as the Greater Manchester side looks set to change its main kit colour back to orange.

The Ammies are undergoing another big overhaul – the most significant since the ‘Class of 92’ bought the club back in 2014 – with supporters being invited to give their thoughts on the direction they want to see the club going in.

Currently sitting ninth in the third tier after making a positive start to the 2025/26 campaign, Salford City have been met not only with fresh investment in recent months but a fresh push for change from the ground up.

Including, as it turns out, the kit colour. After genuine calls to reverse the kit colour from the fans, the Salford board took a fan poll, with over three-quarters of all those who took part voting to return the City jersey to orange.

As you can see, 77.1% of Ammies confirmed that they were in favour of bringing back the predominantly orange and black shirt, shorts and socks; the switch is expected to happen before next season.

The League Two side has made it clear that promotion to the Championship is the big target over the next few years, and as the new consortium headed up by Gary Neville and David Beckham continues to try and transform the club once again, they’re looking to make big statements.

It doesn’t get much more foundational than restoring the orange shirts that Salford City wore for the best part of four decades prior to the initial takeover.

The decision itself comes after a thorough ‘heritage consultation’ process, where the older Neville brother and other key figures took supporter feedback into consideration, including the majority kit vote.

In terms of announcing the change, they’ve had plenty of fun revealing the outcome on social media, too.

Sharing a full statement on the club website, SCFC went on to detail that there is “significant work to be undertaken at the Peninsula Stadium to update cladding and seats, amongst other infrastructure upgrades that are already due to take place.”

Hoping to combine their “tangerine heritage with modern style to create a striking orange identity”, the overall brand aim is now simpler than ever: “when you see orange, you will know what it means. This is Salford. Proud. Unmistakable.”

Long-time supporter, Richard Kedzior – who also owns the recognisable orange and black flag that hangs in the west stand – said of the news: “I’m delighted that we’ve reverted back to orange, which over a 40-year period was the colour we were always associated with prior to the change to red.

“It’s a welcome return to tradition as well as giving us back our unique identity that will once again identify us all as proud supporters of Salford‘s premier football club.”

Before the reversal was fully confirmed, co-owner Neville discussed the potential change in a room full of passionate Salfordians.

Old Dead Tree fanzine committee member, Kev Wright, continued in the statement: “The orange kit represents Salford’s true identity. It sets us apart and reminds everyone that we are our own Club, not just a shadow of Manchester United.

“When we play in red, the comparisons are inevitable, and people can mistake us for something we’re not. Salford is different. It’s about local pride, about belonging to a community with its own history and its own future. Orange gives us a distinct voice and a colour we can call our own. It’s more than just a kit – it’s a statement that we are Salford, and proud!”

Signing off, fellow Ammie Deb Sculthorpe believes that this could be the ‘fresh start’ that the 85-year-old footballing outfit needs, adding that “timing is everything and now is the time.”

A further consultation is set to take place regarding the club crest, too, as some have also suggested reverting the modern logo to the old Salford Central-style badge, with more information to be shared as and when.

What do you make of the decision to swap the modern Salford red for Greater Manchester‘s second city classic orange strip, Ammies?

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Salford City FC/Gareth Lyons (via Wikimedia Commons)

More Sport

Manchester Remembers charity game back in 2027

News

Manchester Remembers Foundation announces its return for a special anniversary charity match

Manchester Half marathon freebies finisher's medal

City Centre

Five fantastic freebies and offers for the 2025 Manchester Half marathon

Manchester Half marathon guide 2025 everything you need to know

Boroughs

Manchester Half 2025 guide – route, waves, start times and everything you need to know

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches