The estranged wife of Andy Polo said in an interview that the Portland Timbers pressured her to drop domestic violence charges against the former player.
Genessis Alarcon made the allegations in an interview with ESPN. She said a woman and the team's head of security visited her two weeks after sheriff's deputies were called to the couple's home last May and Polo was cited.
Portland Timbers forward Andy Polo (7) sets up to shoot during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Houston Dynamo, July 18, 2020, in Kissimmee, Fla. Major League Soccer has engaged an outside law firm to review the Timbers' handling of domestic abuse allegations involving former midfielder Polo.
Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP
It was during that meeting that Alarcon said the unidentified woman made a comment that suggested she and her children would be supported by Polo if she didn't press the charges.
“They were going to make sure that Andy was going to be responsible for me and my kids, but it never happened. I was told this would be in exchange for not pressing charges," she told ESPN through an interpreter.
The Timbers released a statement following ESPN’s publication of the interview: “While the Timbers offered support to Mr. Polo, Ms. Alarcon and their children during a difficult time, there was never any suggestion — expressly or implicitly — that the support was offered in exchange for consideration by Ms. Alarcon. The Timbers would never condone or participate in such conduct.”
Alarcon’s attorney, Michael Fuller, said Alarcon has filed a lawsuit against Polo in federal court.
Polo, who played for Peru in the 2018 World Cup, was dismissed from the team last month after Alarcon came forward with claims of abuse on a Peruvian television program. He has denied the allegations.
A Washington County Sheriff's Department incident report said deputies were called to the Polo home in May and Polo was cited for misdemeanor harassment for allegedly grabbing Alarcon by the wrist. The report said that two representatives from the Timbers arrived while deputies were there.
Major League Soccer has opened an independent investigation into the allegations.
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