Cristiano Ronaldo relegated from FIFA 19 cover star to tiny part in latest promotional video amid rape allegations

The Portuguese forward, 33, is game's cover star but recently disappeared from its online branding, following an allegation of rape.

FIFA 19 was released on September 28 but Ronaldo is not even the most prominent Juventus player in the new video.

The Italian champions' striker Paulo Dybala and Manchester City ace Kevin De Bruyne appear at the beginning of the star-studded new promo.

The silky skills and celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar feature heavily during the first half of it, before Dybala thunders home a volley.


But Ronaldo is part of gameplay footage for UNDER FIVE SECONDS in the one-and-a-half-minute clip, seen flicking the ball past De Bruyne in one segment and then firing in against Bayern Munich in another.

The former Real Madrid man's lack of involvement is in stark contrast to that from a previous video watched by over 11.5 million, released just before the start of the World Cup.

Ronaldo, still a Real Madrid player, was the main focus of that one.

He has featured on the cover of the Fifa franchise for the last two years.


Ronaldo denies raping Kathryn Mayorga, 34, in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009 and maintains the sex was consensual.

His lawyers said documents which claim to show Ronaldo acknowledging he had sex with Kathryn Mayorga without her consent had been altered.

In a statement, lawyer Peter S Christiansen has said the documents are "pure invention" and have been fabricated by hackers.

The lawyer's claims come after German magazine Der Spiegal published an interview with accuser Kathryn Mayorga and documents which allege Ronaldo agreed to pay her £287,000 as part of a non-disclosure agreement in 2010.

Mr Christiansen said the Portuguese forward faced "an elaborate and deliberate defamation campaign based on stolen, easily manipulated digital documents".



In a statement issued through Ronaldo's representatives, Mr Christiansen said: "The documents that allegedly contain statements by Cristiano Ronaldo and were reproduced in the media are pure inventions."

Following a rape allegation against Ronaldo, an EA spokesperson recently said: "We are closely monitoring the situation, as we expect cover athletes and ambassadors to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with EA's values."

Ronaldo denies raping Kathryn Mayorga, 34, in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009 and maintains the sex was consensual.

Fellow sponsor Nike also said they were "concerned" about the allegation and were "closely monitoring the situation".

Ronaldo was the highest-paid athlete in the world for the second straight year in 2017 and pocketed £70m – including £25m in licensing deals.

Nike signed him up for a 'lifetime deal' at the end of 2016 that is reportedly worth £760m.

Source: Read Full Article