Adilson Tavares Varela (born 22 October 1988), commonly known as Cabral, is a former professional footballer.
He spent most of his career at Basel, winning ten honours including five Swiss Super League championships and three Swiss Cup titles. He also had brief spells in three foreign countries.
After representing his adopted Switzerland 30 times between under-18 and under-21 level, Cabral was called up in 2012 for his native Cape Verde but did not play.
Cabral represented Switzerland at Under-18, Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 levels.
In November 2012, Cabral switched his sporting nationality to his birth country of Cape Verde, being called up for the friendly match between the Cape Verde national senior team against Ghana. In that match, which Cape Verde lost 0–1, he was on the bench but did not play.
Cabral is a cousin of fellow footballers Manuel Fernandes, Gelson Fernandes and Edimilson Fernandes.
In 2016, Cabral was found not guilty at Kingston upon Hull Crown Court after a woman had accused him of rape from his time at Sunderland. The woman had consensual sex with several footballers and the judge called her claim a "weak case". Cabral stated "I was really angry for my family, for my friends, for this because everybody think 'You rape girls', 'You are a rapist'. Now the real story goes out. I am not guilty."
2005-2007 |
2007-2013 |
2013-2015 |
2015-2016 |
2018-2020 |
| FC Basel | Appearances | Swiss Super League | 2010-2011 | 21 |