Neymar hits back at Nike accusations

Neymar hit back at Nike on Friday, accusing the sports manufacturer of lying after the brand said it parted company with the Brazilian because he refused to cooperate with its internal investigation into an employee's accusation he sexually assaulted her.

"[To] state that my contract was terminated because I did not contribute in good faith to an investigation, is an absurd lie," the Paris Saint-Germain striker said on Instagram.

"I was not given the opportunity to defend myself," he continued. "I was not given the opportunity to know who this person was that was allegedly offended. I don't even know her. I've never had any kind of relationship or approach with this person."

Nike sponsored Neymar from the age of 13

The statement came a day after Nike said it ended its 15-year association with the soccer star over the alleged 2016 incident — which was reported to the company in 2018 — and his failure to cooperate with its internal investigation. 

The split between Neymar and Nike happened last year, with no reason provided by either side at the time. But the sports firm responded with a statement on Thursday to a story in the Wall Street Journal concerning the assault claims and referenced its own internal investigation.

"No single set of facts emerged that would enable us to speak substantively on the matter," the statement said. "It would be inappropriate for Nike to make an accusatory statement without being able to provide supporting facts."

Neymar teamed up with Puma in September 2020, with the German sportswear giant providing the soccer star with footwear and clothing in a deal that nets the Brazilian around €25 million ($30.5 million) a year.

jsi/msh (AFP, SID)