Former captain Zambrano among three Peruvian footballers accused of sexual assault

Peruvian football club Alianza Lima on Thursday suspended three national team players, including former national team captain Carlos Zambrano, following an allegation of sexual assault by an Argentinian woman.

The club said Zambrano, 36, and Miguel Trauco, 33, and Sergio Pena, 30, have been dropped from the squad that will play Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in a friendly in Lima on Saturday. They have been suspended indefinitely and will face a disciplinary process, a team statement said.

Zambrano is the biggest name on the list. The centre-back has been a regular in Peru’s first team over the past decade and played a key role in the side that reached the Copa America final in 2019 – the country’s best ever performance in the tournament.

The Buenos Aires police said this AFP a 22-year-old woman had reported the three men for an alleged sexual assault that took place on January 18 in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo.

The woman said she was attacked at a hotel where Alianza was conducting a training session.

All three men have played for European clubs and represented Peru in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The team did not advance.

(with input from AFP)

Published on January 23, 2026