Jonathan Barnett: Sports activities agent accused of rape in US lawsuit | Soccer Information

Sports activities agent Jonathan Barnett has been accused of rape in a US lawsuit.

Barnett is accused in a civil grievance which was lodged on Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Earlier than he retired final yr, his high-profile purchasers included gamers corresponding to Gareth Bale, Jack Grealish and Ashley Cole.

An unnamed lady known as “Jane Doe” says she was trafficked to the UK in 2017.

“Jane Doe” can also be suing Artistic Artists Company, and CAA Stellar, the place Barnett was government chairman.

In 2020, Barnett bought Stellar Group to Hollywood expertise company ICM Companions. ICM later merged with rival CAA, in a deal accomplished in 2022 that introduced collectively two of the world’s largest companies.

An announcement from a spokesperson for CAA, who Barnett left in February 2024, learn: “We first realized of Ms Doe’s allegations through a press inquiry in January 2024 and settlement calls for from her lawyer.

“Whereas the grievance makes an attempt to attach these allegations to CAA’s enterprise, Ms Doe has by no means been an worker, advisor, or contractor of CAA, ICM, or Stellar, nor has she ever had any enterprise connection to CAA, ICM, or Stellar.

“CAA takes any allegations of this nature severely, and thru counsel, promptly urged Ms Doe to contact legislation enforcement in the UK. Mr Barnett exited Stellar in February 2024.”

An announcement on behalf of Barnett from his legal professionals learn: “We are going to vigorously defend this lawsuit via the suitable authorized course of. I’m wanting ahead to being solely vindicated and exonerated.”