Police drop sexual assault charges against Chelsea midfielder Lucas Piazon

Chelsea midfielder Lucas Piazon has had sexual assault charges against him dropped.

The 22-year-old was accused of subjecting a woman to 'unwanted sexual contact' during a trip to Toronto with Brazil's U21s in July last year.

An arrest warrant was issued three months ago, but charges against the star, who is currently on loan at Championship outfit Reading, have now been dropped.

In a furious statement, Piazon's lawyers wrote: "The Toronto Police Service announced a charge of sexual assault against Lucas Piazon, an internationally admired football player, who played for Brazil's bronze medal team in the Toronto Pan-Am Games in July.

"Prior to the announcement the police knew that today's decision to withdraw the charge was inevitable."

They added that the allegations against their client were 'unsupportable and irresponsible' and that they have 'wrongly and unfairly tarnished Mr Piazon's unblemished reputation'.

Piazon has made three senior appearances for the Blues, and has four goals in 19 appearances for the Royals this term.