A Premiership footballer is being sued for £850,000 by his former girlfriend and mother of his child - for failing to marry her.
Everton star Steven Pienaar, who was served the summons at the end of a match, is accused of breaking a promise to wed Danielle Steeneveld after they met two years ago.
She said the 27-year-old winger had ‘fallen madly in love her’ and that she gave up living in their native South Africa to live with him while he played in Britain.
But – despite claims of a marriage proposal and their 14-month-old daughter Skyla sharing his surname – Pienaar and Miss Steeneveld’s relationship was recently ended, court papers say.
So, after returning to South Africa, Miss Steenveld, 22, decided to sue.
She is claiming 500,000 rand (£40,000) for patrimonial loss; 3.8million rand (£302,000) for injury to her name, self esteem and reputation after giving birth out of wedlock and 6.5million rand (£516,000) compensation for prospective loss.
Pienaar, a South African international, was handed the summons by her lawyers just minutes after his side were beaten 3-1 at home by Serbia in a friendly in Pretoria, two week ago.
The footballer’s lawyers failed to comment but have indicated they will fight the claims.
Pienaar, playing for Everton last week, was handed a summons after a match
Miss Steenveld’s lawyers also declined to comment.
The Johannesburg-based Sunday Times newspaper said court papers claimed Pienaar had given her a ring and matching pendant as ‘symbols of love and commitment’ on her 21st birthday in October 2007 - four months after they met.
However after claims he had been unfaithful, Piennar allegedly convinced her that the future was with him and that he ‘wanted a South African wife and the mother of his children to be South African, as his roots and commitment to his country are very strong’, said the newspaper.
In November 2007 when she returned to South Africa and met his mother, Miss Steeneveld was pregnant.
She gave birth to daughter Skyla in June 2008 where Pienaar was present.
He insisted on his surname being registered ahead of his intention to marry.
Last October she travelled to the UK where Everton provided the appropriate paperwork allowing her to stay.
She claims Pienaar travelled to South Africa in February this year where he formally proposed to her but a month later he ‘terminated the relationship without explanation or just cause’.
The Sunday Times said the court papers lodged in the High Court in Johannesburg earlier this month, claimed she ‘suffered emotional trauma that will continue in the future’ and ‘patrimonial loss in that she terminated her employment based on promises’ by him.
Midfielder Pienaar, a devout Christian, has won 43 caps for the South African national side, which is nicknamed Bafana Bafana, and is recognised as one of the team’s few top-class players.
He grew up in Westbury, a township on the outskirts of Johannesburg, and has played for Ajax Cape Town, Ajax in Amsterdam, Borussia Dortmund, and Everton since 2007.
Today he is due to be in the team that plays against Wigan at home.

pienaar