In a note from the Rio de Janeiro Federal Police, an unidentified 51-year-old Argentine was arrested on Friday.
A Rio de Janeiro Federal Police official who declined to be identified confirmed to CNN that the person arrested is “the famous golf champion El Pato”.
Angel Cabrera, known as “El Pato”, won the Masters and the US Open.
The police say the Supreme Court of Brazil has executed an arrest warrant for extradition and that the person will be sent to prison until the final extradition back to Argentina.
Cabrera was accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend in Argentina, along with a theft misdemeanor.
CNN spoke to his lawyer, Miguel Gavier, who promised a statement.
In August, Gavier told CNN en Espanol that Cabrera denied the charges. He said he does not understand why Interpol’s red warning was issued to Argentina, because his client has been cooperating and obtained a signed statement from the prosecution saying that Cabrera did not need to get permission to travel.
Last year, the judge stated that, for Cabrera to remain free, he should maintain a permanent residence in Argentina and make himself available to the Court when summoned.
“He is innocent in both cases and expects to be acquitted based on the evidence that has been gathered,” he said.
Neither Interpol nor the Córdoba Court of Justice in Argentina returned calls from CNN.
Police say the arrest took place in an apartment in Leblon, south of Rio de Janeiro. Cabrera was accused in Argentina
According to the federal policeman, Angel looked surprised, but “agreed to the arrest, with no attempt at escape or anything.”
The unidentified federal police officer tells CNN that Angel arrived in Brazil on December 31 from the United States, and a warrant was issued by the Supreme Court on January 9.