Former West Ham United footballer Dimitri Payet is facing a lawsuit in Brazil after a 28-year-old woman accused him of psychological abuse during his time at Vasco da Gama, French newspaper L’Équipe reported.
🔎 Key Allegations
- The plaintiff, identified as lawyer Fernanda Ferrari, claims Payet subjected her to “humiliating, manipulative, and mocking behavior” during a relationship in 2023-2024.
- In a March police report, Ferrari alleged Payet demanded “proof of love” through degrading acts, including filming her “drinking her own urine, toilet water, or licking the floor.”
- Rio de Janeiro prosecutors formally charged Payet on June 20 with “psychological violence and moral damages.”
⚖️ Legal Proceedings
- A Rio judge accepted the case, but details remain under judicial secrecy (confirmed by court officials).
- Prosecutors seek:
- Criminal conviction
- Compensation for Ferrari’s medical expenses
- Payment for “emotional and psychological damages”
⚠️ Payet’s Response
- The 38-year-old French midfielder admitted to an extramarital affair but categorically denied all violence allegations in police testimony.
- Payet was living separately from his wife and children in Rio during his Vasco da Gama stint.
📝 Contract Termination
Payet and Vasco da Gama mutually terminated his two-year contract in early June 2024 via an “amicable agreement.” The player is currently a free agent.