Football Agent Faces Horrific Sex Slavery Allegations in US Court Filing
One of football's most influential agents stands accused of subjecting a woman to years of sexual slavery, torture and psychological torment in a shocking lawsuit filed in California. Jonathan Barnett, the powerful figure behind Gareth Bale's record-breaking £85 million transfer to Real Madrid, faces allegations that he trafficked, raped and tortured an Australian woman over a six-year period.
Graphic Details of Alleged Abuse Emerge in Court Documents
In a newly filed response to Barnett's motion to dismiss the case, the alleged victim provides her first detailed account of what she describes as years of horrific abuse. The woman claims Barnett "forced me to work in servitude to him, controlling me using numerous means, including psychological and physical abuse, threats to harm me and my children, and tricking me into financial dependence."
The court documents contain disturbing allegations that Barnett:
- Referred to the woman simply as 'slave' while demanding she call him 'master'
- Forced her to drink her own urine as part of degrading rituals
- Kicked and beat her so violently she developed a tumour requiring chemotherapy
- Subjected her to what he called 'slave hunting' - forcing her to find other women
- Threatened to kill her and her children if she ever spoke about the abuse
"I lived in fear of my life during that time, and still do today, as he threatened to kill me and my children if we ever spoke out," the woman states in her filing.
Barnett's Vehement Denial and Counter-Claims
Jonathan Barnett has issued a categorical denial of all allegations, describing them as having "no basis in reality and are untrue." Through his legal team, Barnett claims the pair were in a "consensual personal relationship" and that he paid the woman over £1,000,000 after their relationship ended in September 2021.
"When my relationship with plaintiff ended in or around September 2021, she threatened to publicly disclose the relationship unless I paid her significant sums of money," Barnett stated. "As a result of those threats, I paid plaintiff for a number of years, ultimately paying her well in excess of £1,000,000."
Barnett's lawyers have attempted to have the US civil complaint dismissed, arguing that any contact occurred in Britain rather than the United States. They maintain they will "vigorously defend this lawsuit through the appropriate legal process" and expect complete vindication.
High-Profile Career and Recent Developments
The allegations emerge against the backdrop of Barnett's illustrious career in sports representation. Beyond orchestrating Gareth Bale's landmark transfer, Barnett:
- Co-founded the influential agency CAA Stellar with David Manasseh in the early 1990s
- Was named by Forbes as the world's most powerful agent in 2019
- Helped bring cricket to South Africa at Nelson Mandela's personal request
- Played a key role in introducing boxing champion Lennox Lewis to the sport
- Announced his retirement from the industry earlier this year
The lawsuit also names Barnett's former employer, Creative Arts Agency (CAA), though the company states the woman was never an employee, consultant or contractor. CAA confirmed Barnett left the company in February 2024, shortly before the allegations became public.
As the legal battle unfolds in California's district court, the football world watches with growing concern about the serious nature of the allegations against one of its most prominent former agents. The case continues to develop as both sides prepare their arguments for what promises to be a closely watched legal proceeding.
