Dimitri Payet, aged 39, hung up his boots just two months ago by publishing a farewell message addressed to Vasco da Gama fans after the termination of his contract. The Frenchman, who was an international and played for teams such as West Ham, Marseille, Nantes and St Etienne, is now facing trial in Brazil over violence allegations made by his ex-partner Larissa Ferrari.
The player, who was in his final days as a professional, left after playing 75 games with Vasco. He put an end to an intense period, marked by highlights such as salvation on the last day of Serie A in 2024, but also by injuries that marred an abrupt end.
A turbulent end, mainly because of the episode cited at the beginning and whose judicial process is now beginning, as reported by L’Equipe. The former French international, who is already back with his family in the Marseille region, could face criminal charges. Since April 2025, he has been accused of “physical, psychological and sexual violence” by Larissa Ferrari, a lawyer with whom he had a relationship between August 2024 and March 2025.
The complainant explained to investigators that she suffered from “a personality disorder, characterized by hypersensitivity” and claimed that the footballer took advantage of this to “emotionally extort her and obtain violent and humiliating sexual favors,” according to a 17-page document written by herself.
Several dark episodes
She also claims that the relationship turned dark after an episode of jealousy and that she suffered a miscarriage in February 2025. “Because of his behavior, I felt emotionally violated. During sex, he started to punish me, to hit me, to trample my face, my body,” she says. “I had no choice, no dignity. Just a brutal and disgusting imposition by a man who believed he had the divine right to possess me, abuse me and discard me,” she said
“I had no choice, no dignity. Just a brutal and disgusting imposition by a man who believed he had the divine right to own me, abuse me and discard me. Although the case was initially closed, the prosecution reopened it for possible moral damage, alluding to ‘hurtful and degrading attitudes and comments, as well as acts of humiliation and manipulation’. Payet was interrogated on April 16, 2025 by the police unit specializing in violence against women in Jacarepagua. He acknowledged the extramarital relationship but denied any aggression.”
It is also explained that their relationship took a macabre turn after a fit of jealousy by the Vasco da Gama player, and even reveals that she suffered a miscarriage in February 2025, at the height of their crisis. “Because of his behavior, I felt emotionally violated. During sex, he started to punish me, to hit me, to trample on my face, my body,” she says
In his statement, he explained that they met on Instagram, defended that the relationship was consensual and claimed that the “unconventional” sexual practices came from Ferrari. He also denied physically assaulting her and said he was unaware of her psychological problems. According to his version, she wanted to move to France and, when he refused, she allegedly threatened to make compromising information public.
On December 4, the prosecutor reopened the case for psychological abuse, although he refused to extend it to other crimes, a decision confirmed by a judge in January. Ferrari’s defense, however, speaks of “physical harm” and “sexual violence,” relying on documents, images and conversations. “I hope that he will be charged with the other two crimes (sexual and physical). The greatest psychological damage I suffered comes from sexual violence,” she said.
The former player denies everything
Payet strongly denies the allegations. Meanwhile, Ferrari sets out her version of events in a text entitled “From fan to refugee, the beginning of it all”, where she claims to be “economically stable” and not seeking “either prominence or fame“: “I was looking for something infinitely more dangerous: love”.
According to her account, from December 2024 onwards, the “perverse, humiliating and violent” episodes began, admitting that she “gave in for love when he humiliated her for pleasure”. “He was no longer the man who once sheltered and protected me; he was like a monster, a predator. I had become his sex slave,” she writes in this document, which her lawyers describe as written in “nights of agony”.
He was no longer the man who once took me in and protected me; he was like a monster, a predator. I had become his sex slave
The process is ongoing. On March 3, the former player’s defense received a subpoena to respond in writing, and on March 26, he filed a 64-page document questioning “the lack of legal reliability of the statements of the alleged victim” and stressing “the absence of a forensic medical examination” to support the alleged damage.
Relying on private conversations, the defense argues that there was “the express consent of Larissa and the absence of moral damage,” insisting that it was “unconventional and consensual practices,” and requests “the summary acquittal of the accused”.
The judge is now considering the case and will decide whether to dismiss the charges or uphold them, which could lead to a preliminary hearing. Meanwhile, the complainant insists that the relationship was “abusive and toxic” and claims that she is still suffering the consequences: “Every day, I endure shame and humiliation. No one likes to receive messages online or on the street”.
“I hope Dimitri is convicted,” she concludes. “I want this to be an example for all those who remain silent in the face of abuse.”
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