TORONTO police have dropped sexual assault charges lodged against Reading FC forward Lucas Piazon.

And lawyers for the on-loan Chelsea star have hit out at police, claiming the 21-year-old's reputation has been tarnished in the process.

Piazon and Andrey Da Silva Ventura, his Brazil Under 21s teammate, were accused of subjecting a woman to 'unwanted sexual contact' the night after winning the bronze final at the Pan Am games in Canada on July 25 last year.

A warrant for the pair's arrest was issued in October, but three months later all charges against Piazon have been dropped.

His lawyers, Brian Greenspan and Robin McKechney, issued a joint statement saying: “On October 29, 2015, the Toronto Police Service announced a charge of sexual assault against Lucas Piazon, an internationally admired football player, who had played for Brazil’s bronze medal team in the Toronto Pan-Am Games in July.

“The alleged incident had taken place shortly after the Games had concluded. This unsupportable and irresponsible allegation by Toronto Police wrongly and unfairly tarnished Mr Piazon’s unblemished reputation.

“Prior to the announcement the police knew that today’s decision to withdraw the charge was inevitable."

It continues: "The decision to withdraw the charge - on the basis that there was no reasonable prospect of conviction - reflects the thorough and professional examination of this matter by senior and experienced Crown prosecutors.

“The Crown’s guidance had been sought – but clearly ignored - by the police prior to their October press conference.

“It is both regrettable and unacceptable that the police chose to disregard the balanced and fair-minded assessment made by the Crown, and to defiantly proceed to announce charges when the conclusion had been reached that the evidence could not justify a trial.”

However, Toronto police say an arrest warrant for 22-year-old keeper Andrey remains in place.

It relates to the alleged sexual assault of a 21-year-old woman in a Toronoto nightclub shortly after the bronze final.

Piazon, with four goals in 19 games for Reading this season, had come off the bench to score in extra time in a 3-1 victory against Panama which saw Andrey start in goal.

Piazon is likely to start for Reading against Walsall in the FA Cup fourth round at Madesjki Stadium this Saturday (3pm ko).