Chelsea lawyers will defend Piazon in Pan Am Games sexual assault case

RIO DE JANEIRO - Two lawyers from English Premier League champion Chelsea will defend soccer player Lucas Piazon from sexual assault charges he's facing in Canada.

Fabiano Souza, a Sao Paulo-based spokesman for the 21-year-old Piazon, says Friday that the offer came "a few hours ago" and was promptly accepted.

Piazon currently plays on loan in England for second-tier Reading but still has a contract with the London club.

Toronto police issued arrest warrants Thursday for Piazon and goalkeeper Andrey, 22. They are accused of sexually assaulting a woman while in Canada for the Pan Am Games this summer.

Piazon says he's innocent. Souza says that the players "don't even know who came up with these charges."

For Piazon, the whole situation is a "circus," his spokesman says.