The Allegations Against Dimitri Payet

Dimitri Payet, the former West Ham United midfielder and now 38 years old, is facing serious allegations from his former lover, Larissa Natalya Ferrari. According to recent reports, she has accused him of subjecting her to 12 hours of “psychological torture.” The case is set to go on trial in Brazil, with the charges stemming from an affair that lasted seven months.

Ferrari claims that during their relationship, she was forced to drink her own urine and lick the floor. These allegations have led to Payet being charged with “psychological violence.” More details about the relationship have come to light through a report by The Sun, which highlights Ferrari’s claim that Payet used his power and status to “trap” her in an abusive relationship.

A Disturbing Relationship

The Brazilian lawyer, who first met Payet via Instagram in August 2023, says that he made her perform degrading acts and used “punishments” to control her every move. She alleges that Payet described her as “worthless” because he had slept with hundreds of other women, despite having a wife and four children. It is believed that during his two years playing for Vasco de Gama in Rio de Janeiro, Payet was living away from his family, who remained in France.

According to The Sun’s report, Ferrari said that her relationship with Payet turned into a “macabre game” after initially seeming “sweet.” The 29-year-old claimed that the worst event occurred in January last year, when she felt forced to perform “degrading” acts on camera.

Payet’s Denial and Legal Response

Payet and his lawyers strongly deny all of the allegations against him. Ferrari’s case, which was lodged in April, was initially dismissed by prosecutors in Brazil before Payet was indicted on an appeal. At the time, Payet’s defense lawyer, Sheila Lustoza, reportedly disagreed with the decision but respected it and emphasized it was a natural part of the process.

“From this point onwards, however, the defense will be granted the right to present its version of the facts with all the evidence gathered so far,” a statement read.

Ferrari’s lawyers welcomed the decision by the city’s Domestic Violence Court in accepting the complaint. They stated:

“We received the recent decision with confidence in the institutions responsible for investigating the facts and holding the person under investigation accountable, recognizing it as an important step forward in the search for the truth and reparation for the damages suffered by the victim.”

“The Judiciary’s position reaffirms the authorities’ commitment to the seriousness of the events and their firm determination to curb practices that violate women’s dignity, regardless of the social position or public visibility of the person under investigation.”

“We reiterate our commitment to remain firm in the uncompromising defense of our client’s rights, certain that justice will prevail.”

Consensual Acts or Coercion?

Payet is alleged to have admitted that he and Ferrari performed “bizarre sexual acts,” as she reportedly described them, but insists that they were consensual. He is widely regarded as one of West Ham’s most talented players this century but left under a cloud to rejoin Marseille after just 18 months in 2017. He stayed at the Stade Velodrome for six-and-a-half years before moving to Brazil in 2023.

In March, Larissa revealed that they had had a seven-month affair. She wrote in a lengthy statement:

“One thing I want to make clear is that it was never about money. There was no need for it.”

“There’s not much I can say because there’s no explanation or anything to justify it.”

“But one thing I want to make extremely clear is that it was never for money, not before, not now. In fact, the last time I went to Rio, I went by bus.”

Larissa, who is a mother of two, also claimed that she only got physically involved with the midfielder following her divorce from her ex-husband.