MEXICO CITY -- Ecuador winger Renato Ibarra was released from jail in Mexico City on Thursday after charges of "attempted femicide" and "attempted abortion" were dropped, but he won't be returning to Club America, who banished him permanently from the institution.
Ibarra was formally charged on March 8 with domestic violence and "attempted femicide" after an alleged assault on his pregnant partner Lucely Chala, but she reportedly retracted her original written statement that the player had physically hit her in Thursday's second hearing.
Due to the elimination of the more serious charges, Ibarra will now go on trial for domestic violence and was free to leave Mexico City's Reclusorio Oriente jail on conditional bail while awaiting the continuation of the case.
Ecuador international Ibarra had been taken into custody on March 5 and had been incarcerated for a week while evidence was gathered for the trial.
Ibarra had written on Twitter that the allegation that he hit his partner was "absolutely false."
But while Ibarra is now free, he won't be returning to Club America.
"Club America reiterates its absolute daily commitment to participate in eradicating gender-based violence and of promoting real respect for women," read the club's statement, in English. "In this regard, the club strongly condemns the acts carried out by Mr. Renato Ibarra.
"Given the above, and as has been reported in the media and by the authorities, it has been determined to definitively separate the player from the team," continued the statement.
Ibarra was one of five people originally charged with allegedly attacking his partner, Chala, and her sister, Karen Chala. He was arrested at a house in an exclusive residential zone to the south of Mexico City.
Chala was hospitalized after the alleged attack and left hospital last Saturday afternoon in a wheelchair.
Ibarra joined Club America from Dutch club Vitesse in 2016. He has not played for the Liga MX side this Clausura season due to a right adductor injury suffered in December.