Former France midfielder Dimitri Payet has admitted to having an affair with Brazilian lawyer Larissa Ferrari but denies allegations of physical, mental, and sexual abuse against her.
Brazilian newspaper G1 reported over the weekend that Payet responded to the allegations made by his lover Larissa Ferrari in a statement to the police. The former French midfielder admitted to having a seven-month affair with the lawyer because he felt lonely while playing football in Vasco da Gama, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), while his wife, Ludivine, and four children remained in France.
However, he denied the allegations of physical, mental, and sexual abuse as accused by his lover. Payet said the two were consensual and that Larissa suggested these actions. The statement mentioned Larissa "asking to be slapped during sex," which resulted in numerous marks on her body.
The former international said his lover had asked them to continue their relationship in France when he finished his contract with Vasco da Gama this summer, on the condition that he would pay all expenses, but he refused. The former Marseille midfielder said Larissa's behaviour had changed since then, and the two had not seen each other again. Payet said she sent him a text message on his birthday at the end of March, but he did not reply. He said she threatened to reveal his "secret" if he did not contact her within four hours. He was then placed under police investigation for alleged violence, Payet said.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun in mid-April, the 28-year-old lawyer accused Payet of abusing her during their relationship. She said the 38-year-old former midfielder forced her to make a humiliating video and attend a fake wedding to "prove their love". Larissa also accused Payet of forcing her to drink her own urine and water from the toilet and lick the floor.
She reported the case to the police and shared photos of bruises on her body with The Sun. The Brazilian beauty added that she suffers from borderline personality disorder and believes the former West Ham star took advantage of this to torture her. Larissa said she "not only wants justice but also wants to help other women who are being abused by their partners". The female lawyer said, "He is a sick demon. I was afraid for my life, and I am still afraid".
The Brazilian lawyer said she started chatting with Payet on Instagram last August, then started messaging him on WhatsApp. Larissa believes Payet used a fake profile to get to know him. Despite knowing he was married, she flew thousands of miles from her home in Parana state to Rio to meet Payet at the Windsor Hotel, where he and his teammates were staying before the match.
After a romantic first date, the relationship grew, and the two began spending more time together. However, Larissa said that in October 2024, Payet started making strange requests and told her to dress like a bride. "We had a fake wedding. He said it was the official moment to enter a real relationship. He never mentioned his wife, and I didn't like asking about her. He asked me to buy a wedding ring and said he would never leave me," she said.
Things between the pair deteriorated in early December last year when Larissa's friend posted a picture of two match tickets that Payet had given them on social media. Larissa claims Payet became aggressive and shouted at her. She says he then made her endure humiliating punishments and filmed them.
Dimitri Payet played for a number of teams in his native France, including Lille and Marseille, before moving to England to join West Ham in 2015. After two seasons, he returned to Marseille to play until 2023 before moving to Brazil to play for Vasco de Gama. The attacking midfielder has made 38 appearances for France, scoring eight goals.
(According to The Sun)