India, June 28 -- Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes is at the center of a serious police investigation during the FIFA World Cup, according to reports from Brazilian outlet Globo. The 36-year-old winger, who has played in all three of Cape Verde's matches at the tournament, has been accused by a translator of an incident that allegedly took place during the team's trip to New Zealand in March.

New Zealand Police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, while FIFA says it is in contact with authorities.

The allegation was first reported by Globo, which said a Brazilian woman working as a translator for the Cape Verde team during their New Zealand tour filed a complaint with police after an incident in Auckland on March 27.

Accordin...