(May 28): Brazilian soccer player Neymar hit back at sportswear maker Nike Inc on Friday, saying the company's statement that it terminated an endorsement deal because he refused to cooperate with an investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a Nike employee was "an absurd lie". Neymar, who plays for Paris St Germain, denies the allegations and said he did not know the employee in question. The incident allegedly took place in 2016 but the employee initially requested to keep the matter confidential and Nike only opened its investigation in 2019 after the woman expressed an interest in legal action, according to a Nike statement. Nike said it had ended its relationship with Neymar because "the athlete refused to cooperate in a good faith investigation of credible allegations of wrongdoing by an employee". Brazilian authorities dropped that investigation against Neymar, citing lack of evidence, and later charged the model with slander, extortion and procedural fraud.

Source: The Edge Markets May 28, 2021 18:11 UTC