Cristiano Ronaldo issues first statement since rape allegation

Cristiano Ronaldo has issued his first statement since being faced with rape allegations.

The footballer was accused of raping Kathryn Mayorga during a party in a Las Vegas hotel room suite in 2009. He issued a statement today firmly denying the attack. On Twitter, he wrote:

"I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in. "Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense. "My clear conscience will thereby allow me to await with tranquillity the results of any and all investigations."

Mayorga said that after the alleged attack, she was paid $375,000 to stay quiet. She is now suing the Portuguese footballer to have her settlement voided. According to German news source Der Spiegel, Ronaldo apologised during the lawsuit saying that "he was sorry, he was usually a gentleman." The lawsuit also claims that Ronaldo told his representative that Mayorga has said "stop" and "no, no, no" during the act. Ronaldo also dismissed the allegations as "fake news" on Instagram during the week.