Like all other forms of mass entertainment, the power of competitive sport lies in its ability to create a connection between fans and athletes who would never meet in real life. For fans like me, athletes are almost akin to friends and family.

And like our friends and family, we sometimes defend them irrationally. Every mistake on the field is excused, every loss is blamed on the referee and every victory is seen as a vindication of our support.

Yet, where sport fandom gets dangerous is when we start defending our idols off the field. We rationalize actions that we would otherwise consider immoral. I would know, having spent many hours defending my childhood hero Wayne Rooney for controversies that my middle-school self could barely comprehend.

Such apathy seeps into media coverage. The unsavory behavior of athletes is brushed under the carpet. Until recently, this was not exclusive to sports. Other forms of mass entertainment were safe havens for perpetrators of sexual assault who were never held accountable for their crimes. Thanks to the #MeToo movement, this has changed.

Yet, the sporting world has somehow managed to resist change. Nowhere is this better illustrated than the case of Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably one of the greatest footballers of all time. In September 2018, an American woman named Kathryn Mayorga alleged that Ronaldo had raped her in 2009. The details are harrowing and, more importantly, the evidence is damning. It includes an incriminating questionnaire in which Ronaldo’s lawyers admit that Mayorga “said no and stop several times”.

For a few weeks, the story gained traction. Ronaldo and his lawyers were forced to admit that they had an agreement with Mayorga, yet argued that it had been misrepresented in Der Spiegel. They did not elaborate on the nature of the misrepresentation.

Even more concerning was a despicable statement by Ronaldo’s employers, Juventus F.C. In the statement, the club praised Ronaldo’s “professionalism and dedication” and stated that “the events allegedly dating back to almost 10 years ago do not change this opinion." It does not take an expert to dissect what is wrong with that statement. To suggest that Ronaldo’s “professionalism and dedication” compensate in any way for a heinous crime like rape is abhorrent. Moreover, the club did not even attempt to deny the allegations.

The Juventus statement presaged the reaction since no disciplinary body has taken any action. Ronaldo has continued to score goals and Juventus have continued to win games. The striker continues to be admired by millions of fans who buy products associated with his name. Even at NYU Abu Dhabi, a photo of Ronaldo still hangs in the gymnasium. It is as if the allegations were never made public.

The handling of the Ronaldo case is not an exception but rather the rule when it comes to allegations against famous athletes. Take the case of National Basketball Association star Derrick Rose. In August 2015, an anonymous woman filed a civil case pertaining to alleged gang rape committed by Rose and his friends. While a federal court absolved Rose of any guilt and the accuser is appealing, his responses in court illustrate the point guard’s attitude toward women and consent.

For example, Rose defended their decision to show up at the plaintiff's house at midnight by claiming that being men, him and his friends were entitled to show up at a woman’s doorstep at 1 a.m. without there being anything to assume. He also clarified that there was no indication that the woman had consented.

Like the Ronaldo case, the evidence against Rose may not be enough for a court of law, but it is enough to conclude that Rose did not obtain consent and certainly enough to prompt more investigation.

Instead of ostracization or even condemnation, Rose has continued to play in the NBA. Many categorized the allegations as just another struggle that the superstar had “overcome”. Over the past year, the Chicago native’s rejuvenated form has become the “feel-good” story of the NBA, without any regard to the feelings of the women whose consent Rose did not obtain.

In fact, Rose received more than three million votes for the 2019 NBA All Star game. To think that three million NBA fans decided that a man with credible allegations of sexual assault deserved to represent the league is a damning indictment of sports fandom.

The cases of Rose and Ronaldo illustrate how the sporting world continues to shield sexual assaulters. Sports administrators are easy to blame but expecting them to grow a spine when it comes to their profit-making stars is like expecting rain in Abu Dhabi.

If fans care about victims, then we have to stop wearing Ronaldo jerseys or hanging Rose posters. And if we want significant change, it may be time to stop watching games involving them. It’s time to hit criminal athletes and their enablers where it truly hurts: their pockets.