Former Mexico soccer star Jesus Arellano arrested on charges of raping niece

Former Mexico striker Jesus Arellano, who has appeared in three World Cups and was considered one of the most skilful Mexican forwards of his time, has been arrested on charges of raping his 16-year-old niece.

According to Mexican media, the retired footballer was arrested over the weekend at his home in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon in Mexico after being on the run for more than one year.

His niece had filed a criminal complaint with the attorney’s general office in January 2017 over allegations of rape and sexual abuse and the 45-year-old Arellano had been living as a fugitive after he failed to appear in court to face his charges. Police had issued an arrest warrant in 2017 but he had been at large until he was arrested by the State Agency of Investigations of Nuevo Leon last Saturday in the Cumbres Oro neighbourhood.

Arellano, who played mainly for Mexican club CF Monterrey, is considered one of his country’s most skilful forwards. He played in three World Cups – France 1998, Korea-Japan 2002 and Germany 2006.

“El Cabrito” also represented his country at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and helped Monterrey win the MX league title three times – Mexico’s top-tier football championship.

He played three matches for Mexico at Korea-Japan 2002, helping his country reach the round of 16. He earned 70 caps for Mexico, scoring seven times and played one match – as a second half substitute – in a 0-0 draw against Angola at his last World Cup appearance in Germany 2006.