Nike has said it is "deeply concerned" by rape allegations against footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

The US sportswear giant ‑ which has a contract worth a reported $US1bn with Ronaldo ‑ said it would "continue to closely monitor the situation".

EA Sports, which also has a contract with Ronaldo, made similar comments.

Ronaldo earlier "firmly" denied assaulting a woman at a Las Vegas hotel in 2009.

[Source: BBC]