A Brazilian woman, who claims to have had a romantic relationship with French footballer Dimitri Payet, has filed a complaint against him in Rio de Janeiro for “physical and psychological violence,” according to a report seen by AFP.
The 38-year-old midfielder, who spent a significant part of his career with Marseille, as well as a stint in the Premier League with West Ham United, joined Vasco da Gama in 2023 and moved to Rio with his wife and children.
“The complaint was filed at a police station dedicated to assisting women,” the Rio de Janeiro civil police told AFP. “The investigation is ongoing, and it is being treated with confidentiality.”
The police report, dated March 29, states that the woman alleged she had been “assaulted” by Payet, resulting in marks on her body. She also claimed to have endured “physical, moral, psychological, and sexual violence.”
AFP has reached out to both Payet and his club, but neither has provided a response.
The complainant, a 28-year-old lawyer and Vasco da Gama supporter, told AFP that she first met Dimitri Payet via Instagram in August of the previous year, and they subsequently began a romantic relationship.
“In December, we had our first argument, and he started telling me he was going to punish me,” she said.
“He asked me for proof of love, which involved humiliation. I recorded videos of myself drinking my own urine, drinking water from the toilet, and licking the floor,” she explained.
The woman also accused Payet of occasionally “pushing” her and “stepping” on her.
According to another report, the complainant, who says she suffers from borderline personality disorder—a condition characterised by emotional instability and hypersensitivity in relationships—has requested police protection from Payet.
