Originally published Monday, April 6, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Agent defends Sounders FC soccer star Fredy Montero

An agent for Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero defended the star in a Colombian newspaper, saying he feels the legal matter involving Montero will be cleared up soon.

By José Miguel Romero

Seattle Times staff reporter

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TORONTO — An agent for Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero defended his client in a report published by El Tiempo, a leading daily newspaper in Colombia, on Saturday.

Helmut Wennin told El Tiempo that the allegations against the 21-year-old star stem from a disagreement over a relationship, that Montero sought to end the relationship with the woman who made the allegations, and that he trusts in Montero's character.

"The team has given a lot of support, and we are completely certain that everything will clear up soon," Wennin said.

Montero, Sounders FC's leading scorer and the Major League Soccer Player of the Month for March, did not play Saturday in Seattle's 2-0 win over Toronto FC. He was too sick to fly with the team and could not have traveled regardless of any investigation of allegations, the team reaffirmed Sunday. King County prosecutors are reviewing a Bellevue police investigation into an alleged sexual assault by Montero, law-enforcement sources told The Seattle Times on Friday.

Sounders FC general manager Adrian Hanauer responded to the report from Colombia.

"While we know firsthand of the stress and frustration this situation has caused, we have counseled Fredy, his family and associates to have faith in our system of law and to allow due process," Hanauer said.

Wennin said Montero feels very hurt and sad about the situation and now doesn't want to publicly discuss anything not related to sports. Montero's teammates are behind him, Sounders FC captain Kasey Keller said Saturday, and the chemistry on the team has helped it get off to the best start ever for an MLS expansion team at 3-0.

"We have a group of guys that are willing to listen to one another, and there's no egos," Keller said. "There's nobody holding their hands up going 'All right, how come this guy gave me [a bad] pass?' Because that guy, when he gives a bad pass, he turns around and runs like hell to try to win the ball back. And there's nothing better for team spirit than seeing somebody make a mistake and work tremendously hard to rectify that. And that is what we have."

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com

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