Dimitri Payet, the former West Ham midfielder now playing for Vasco da Gama in Brazil, is under investigation by police after being accused of physical, psychological, and sexual violence by a woman named Larissa Natalya Ferrari.
Ferrari, a 28-year-old lawyer, has shared detailed accounts of her alleged abuse during an extramarital relationship with the 38-year-old French footballer, which lasted from September 2024 to March 2025. She claims that the incidents took place between January 25 and February 6 of this year.
In her testimony to Brazilian authorities, Ferrari described how Payet allegedly inflicted physical marks on her body and subjected her to psychological and sexual violence. The abuse reportedly began in December 2024 after Ferrari posted a picture on social media that angered Payet. She alleges that Payet began using psychological pressure, labeling it as “punishment” for her mistakes.
Ferrari further revealed that during their intimate encounters, Payet would physically assault her, even stepping on her body and face. She also claims that he manipulated her psychological struggles, pressuring her into humiliating acts such as drinking her own urine and putting her head in a toilet. Ferrari has now left Rio de Janeiro and is undergoing psychological and psychiatric treatment to recover from the trauma.
The case is currently under investigation by the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police, with the authorities maintaining the investigation’s confidentiality. The Women’s Police Station (Deam) in Jacarepagua is handling the matter.
Ferrari, in a subsequent interview, expressed the immense difficulty in speaking about the alleged abuse, sharing how she came to terms with the fact that she was manipulated into believing she deserved the mistreatment. She credits therapy for helping her realize that she was not at fault.
Payet, who has been married for 18 years and has four children, has yet to publicly respond to the allegations. The case has drawn significant attention in Brazil, and the investigation is ongoing.