THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON — Robinho claims the teenager accusing him of a serious sexual assault is an “opportunist” in a protest of innocence to Brazil coach Dunga on Wednesday after his arrest by British police.
The 25-year-old forward spoke by telephone to Dunga before starring in Manchester City’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle in the English Premier League.
The league’s most expensive player was released on bail by police after being questioned late Tuesday in Leeds, where the crime was alleged to have taken place while partying with City teammates at a nightclub in the early hours of Jan. 14.
Both club and country have offered their full support to Robinho as he tries to clear his name against the 18-year-old woman’s allegation.
“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, who has shown to be a real professional with the Brazilian national team. He’s one of those players who’s always shown a real pleasure about wearing the national team shirt in training and in matches.”
Satisfied by Robinho’s explanation of the incident at Space nightclub, Dunga assured Robinho that there was no threat to his place in Brazil’s team to face Italy on Feb. 10 in London in a friendly.
“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 added on its Web site.
Robinho rewarded City manager Mark Hughes for selecting him on Wednesday by setting up Shaun Wright-Phillips to score the club’s opener against Newcastle as he played the full 90 minutes.
“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,” Hughes said. “He was very focused. I spoke to him this morning and he was very clear that he was ready and he was prepared for the game.
“He put in a great performance and the interplay between himself and Craig (Bellamy) looks very encouraging.”
Robinho has scored 12 goals since joining City from Real Madrid in September for a British record transfer fee of US$62 million.
City said in a statement that it would assist both the player and the police investigation, emphasizing that “no charges of any nature have been brought against the player.”
“It is a difficult situation,” Hughes added. “We’re fully supportive of him, we’re fully supportive of the process that has to be gone through.”
After Robinho’s prearranged meeting with police officers investigating the student’s claims, he vowed to clear his name.
“He strenuously denies any allegation of wrongdoing or criminality and is happy to co-operate with the police if required further,” Robinho spokesman Chris Nathaniel said.
West Yorkshire Police, which wasn’t identifying the player, confirmed that a man had been questioned about a “serious sexual assault” and was subsequently released on bail.
Reports of a high-profile player being at the centre of an investigation emerged within 48 hours of the incident, and senior City officials were aware that Robinho was the accused. But his name wasn’t published until after Tuesday’s arrest.
Robinho was also facing an internal disciplinary procedure at City.
Days after the alleged incident in northern England, he left the club’s training camp in Tenerife, Canary Islands, without permission to return to Brazil for a week, citing an “important family matter.”
Hughes plans to fine his star player over the sudden exit.
Robinho, who lives near Manchester with his partner, Vivian, and one-year-old son, Robson Junior, flew back from Brazil on Sunday and was in training the following day.
Robinho was central to City’s bid to end years of mediocrity and he had hoped to be joined by Brazil teammate Kaka last week until a deal with AC Milan collapsed. He denied claims that Kaka’s failure to join City would prompt him to leave.
City moved up to ninth place in the league with Wednesday’s win.