Ghanaian international footballer, John Paintsil has been arrested by the Legon Police in Accra for allegedly stabbing his wife, Richlove, in the eye on Friday afternoon.
According to Goal.com, Paintsil was confronted by his wife following rumours he slept with some prostitutes during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa.
The allegation was first made by football enthusiast and social commentator Appiah Kofi popularly known as Appiah Stadium during a radio interview. Appiah alleged that the veteran defender was responsible for bringing women to the Black Stars camp to have sexual intercourse with them and this culminated in the team’s poor output at the tournament.
Paintsil, however, denied the allegation and threatened to drag Appiah Stadium to court to clear his name.
Goal.com further reports that his wife, Richlove, questioned Paintsil on several occasions since the issue broke. However, he lost his temper on Friday and attacked his wife stabbing her in the eye. The former West Ham defender is also reported to have attacked a neighbour who attempted to rescue his wife, according to police.
“The wife scaled a wall to a neighbour’s house for protection and immediately, John Paintsil also pursued her, came to the neighbour’s house, gave him some slaps and threatened to shoot him. That scared the gentleman who rushed to the police to lodge a complaint,” a witness told BBC Sport.
The wife is said to be unconscious after sustaining serious injuries to her eye and is currently at a hospital receiving treatment.
Paintsil, 31, is a member of the Ghana team that finished fourth at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.