Auston Matthews faced a criminal investigation after a woman filed a charge against him that almost ruined his career

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Feb 26, 2025, 20:06 IST

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Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs' star player, faced a controversy in 2019 when he was charged with disorderly conduct. A security guard, Fayola Dozithee, reported that Matthews and a group tried to open her car. Though the charges were later dropped, the incident delayed him becoming captain until 2024. Now, he remains one of the NHL's top talents.

Auston Matthews faced a criminal investigation after a woman filed a charge against him that almost ruined his career

Image via Paige Taylor White/CP

Auston Matthews, the star player of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is one of the most talented and popular players in the National Hockey League. After spending a number of years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he became the captain of the team in 2024. While his skill cant be compared to anyone else, a few years ago he found himself involved in a controversy that potentially threatened his career.

Auston Matthews Got Involved In A Criminal Investigation In 2019 When A Woman Filed A Charge Against Him

Back in 2019, Auston Matthews had already shown the skill and expertise to become the captain of the team. But just when he was about to become a captain, a woman filed a charge against the star player for “disorderly conduct and disruptive behaviour”.

The woman was a security guard going by the name of Fayola Dozithee. In 2019 Fayola Dozithee reported that she was sitting inside her locked car late at night in the month of May trying to complete some paperwork. At that time, she heard some noise and realised that a group of men were trying to open her locked car.
This group of men also included the now captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews. This happened in Scottsdale, Arizona, outside Auston Matthews’ condo.
As per CBC Sports, body cam footage of the police had revealed that the woman filed a complaint when Auston Matthews family did not take her complaint seriously. At that point due to the criminal investigation against the star player, he was not announced the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Auston Matthews did get charged but the charges against him were dropped soon after. At that point, Auston Matthews did open up about his relationship with Kyle Dubas, the then general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and said, "I think we're in good shape. Obviously I made a mistake. I'm taking ownership of it, but everybody makes mistakes."
Auston Matthews did not let his performance get affected due to this and went on to prove his skill. In 2024, he was announced as the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs and is one of the most skilled players on ice today.
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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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