Neymar rape case dropped by Brazilian police over lack of evidence

Police investigating rape allegations against Brazilian football player Neymar say they have closed the case. AFP

Police investigating allegations of rape against Brazil superstar Neymar have closed the case over a lack of evidence, the Sao Paulo attorney general's office has said.

The police will submit their decision to prosecutors on Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the attorney general's office told Agence France-Presse, who will have 15 days to assess the case.

A final ruling on the case will be made by a judge.

An investigation was opened after Brazilian model Najila Trindade alleged the Paris Saint-Germain forward attacked her in a hotel in Paris, France, in May.

Neymar, 27, has vehemently denied the allegations, claiming it was an attempt to extort money from him.

A spokesman for Neymar said he was not able to comment on the police decision. Sao Paulo police are due to hold a news conference on Tuesday.

The ugly affair has gripped Brazil for weeks and threatened to overshadow the country's triumph at the recent Copa America on home soil.

Neymar missed the tournament with an ankle injury suffered in a warm-up match before Brazil's opening game at the Copa against Bolivia on June 14.

Allegations first came to light on June 2 when Neymar published a seven-minute video on Instagram revealing he had been accused of rape. As part of his defence, the former Santos and Barcelona forward also published WhatsApp messages and images of him and Trindade - without her consent - which could still see him fall foul of Brazilian law.

In the video he says he had to make them public to "prove that nothing really happened".

Extracts of a televised interview with Trindade, in which she accused Neymar of "aggression together with rape," aired an hour before Brazil's pre-Copa America friendly game against Qatar on June 5, in which Neymar tore his right ankle ligaments in a 2-0 win.

Neymar was questioned by police over the WhatsApp messages and appeared before investigators in Sao Paulo where Trindade had filed her complaint at the end of May.

As the case dragged on, police filed a defamation suit against Trindade - who was dropped by multiple lawyers - after she insinuated the force was corrupt, AFP reported.

"The police are bought, aren't they? Or am I crazy?" she told television channel SBT last month in response to questions over the police investigation of an alleged theft of a tablet device from her home that contained a short video she claims has conclusive evidence she was assaulted.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, polls have shown that most Brazilians believe Neymar is innocent.

Controversy has followed the Paris Saint-Germain player, who reported back late for pre-season training with PSG earlier this month.

The forward joined the French champions for a word record €222 million (Dh913m) from Barcelona in 2017 but is rumoured to be agitating for a move back to the Spanish club this summer.

He has yet to feature during PSG's pre-season tour in Asia and earlier this month made a series of remarks that strained his relationship further with the club and sparked outrage on social media.

Asked by online sports channel Oh My Goal about his best memory in football, Neymar cited Barcelona's incredible 2017 Champions League victory over PSG when he was part of the team that overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit by winning 6-1 in the second leg of their last-16 tie.

Earlier in the day, Neymar posted a 10-second video of himself in a Barcelona shirt and a quote from the Bible: "No weapon turned against you will prosper."

PSG sporting director Leonardo opened the door to the player leaving the club "if there is an offer that suits everyone".