RONALDO CRISIS STILL UNSETTLED
| Thursday, February 6, 2020 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao least $200,000 more from Ronaldo. Her attorneys have asked for the case to be decided in a courtroom.
The Associated Press generally doesn’t name people who say they’re victims of sexual assault, but Mayorga gave consent in 2018 to be identified.
The recommendation Tuesday by US Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts put in writing his verbal ruling in November allowing the settlement to remain under seal and recommending to US District Judge Jennifer Dorsey that it be decided by a mediator.
“The court finds that none of [Mayorga’s] arguments to invalidate the arbitration agreement have merit and it will compel all of her claims to arbitration,” Albregts wrote. Magistrates handle court filings and pretrial arguments. US district judges handle trials.
Mayorga’s lawyers didn’t immediately respond to messages about whether they’ll appeal Albregts’s recommendation.
Ronaldo’s attorney, Peter Christiansen, declined to comment.
Ronaldo is one of the richest athletes in the world. He plays in Italy for the Turin-based soccer club Juventus and captains his home country Portugal’s national team.
Ronaldo’s lawyers maintain that reports about the settlement and payment were based on electronic data illegally hacked, stolen and sold by cyber criminals. They say they believe the documents have been altered and complain that Mayorga’s lawsuit damages Ronaldo’s reputation.
Mayorga’s attorney, Mark Stovall, says Mayorga, then 25, had learning disabilities as a child and lacked the legal capacity to sign a nondisclosure agreement.
Ronaldo’s lawyers counter that there is no evidence Mayorga was incapacitated or incapable of understanding what she was signing. They have said in court the existence of the agreement and payment should never have been disclosed publicly.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, hit back at Barcelona’s Sports Director Eric Abidal on Tuesday after he criticized the players’ efforts.
Messi used his Instagram account to publish a text attacking Abidal for his criticism and saying the former player and other club directors should take responsibility for their recent decisions.
“Honestly, I don’t like to do this kind of thing, but I think everyone has to be responsible for their roles and
EDINBURG, Texas— Christine Sinclair extended her international career-goals record when she scored in the 26th minute and Canada went on to defeat Mexico,
2-0, on Tuesday night in the final group stage match at the Concacaf Women’s
Olympic qualifying tournament.
Canada advances to face Costa Rica in a semifinal on Friday in Carson, California. Mexico draws a more difficult task in the other semi against the defending World Cup champion US national team.
The winners of the semifinals will earn the region’s two berths in the Tokyo Olympics. The tournament’s title match is set for Sunday.
Jamaica, and Saint Kitts and Nevis; eliminated from the knockout round, met in the late match at Edinburg’s HEB Park.
Sinclair sat out of Canada’s last group match after scoring two goals in the opener, giving her 185 international goals, most among men or women. She passed retired US star Abby Wambach, who had 184.
Sinclair scored No. 186 to give Canada the early lead before Shelina Zadorsky added Canada’s second goal just before the half.
AP
take responsibility for their decisions,” Messi posted on an Instagram story. “We [players] are the first to acknowledge when we don’t play well. Those in charge of the sports department also have to be held accountable for their responsibilities and, above all, for their decisions.”
The rare public attack by Messi came after the Spanish daily Sport published an interview in which Abidal said “many players were not satisfied and didn’t work hard” under Coach Ernesto Valverde, who was replaced by Quique Setién in the beginning of the year.
Messi highlighted that quote from Abidal on his Instagram story. The two were teammates until the Frenchman left Barcelona in 2013.
“Lastly, I think that when you talk about players, you should name them,” Messi said. “Otherwise, you are tainting all of us and helping spread rumors that are not true.”
The club did not immediately respond to Messi’s comments.
Barcelona hasn’t been playing well since Valverde was replaced by Setién. It lost the Spanish league lead to Real Madrid and was almost eliminated by third-division club Ibiza in the Copa del Rey. Its next game is Thursday at Athletic Bilbao in the quarterfinals of the Copa.