Two Premier League players arrested over allegation of rape

Two 19-year-old footballers were arrested and released on bail, police said

Amy-Clare Martin
Crime Correspondent
Wednesday 24 April 2024 17:39 BST
Two players have been arrested, police said
Two players have been arrested, police said (Getty )

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Two Premier League players have been arrested in relation to an allegation of rape.

Police revealed two 19-year-old men were arrested at the weekend after a report of a rape was made to them last Friday (April 19).

The first man was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of aiding and abetting a rape, while a second man was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of rape, police said.

Reports claim one of the players was at his club’s football stadium when officers arrived. He is said to have been spoken to at the stadium before he was arrested later that night.

Both players, believed to be from the same club, have since been released on police bail.

“Officers have arrested two men following a report of a rape,” a police spokesperson told the BBC.

“A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and aiding and abetting a rape. A second 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape.

“Both men have since been released on police bail.”

It is not known if the two arrested players have been suspended over the alleged attack, which is said to have taken place on Friday.

A spokesman for the football club in question declined to comment on the police investigation.

A spokesman told The Sun: “As the matter is now in the hands of the police, the club will not be making further comment at this stage.”

The players and their club cannot be identified for legal reasons.

However Wolverhampton Wanderers issued a denial on X, formerly Twitter, amid “inappropriate online speculation” over the identities of the players under investigation.

“Whilst we would not typically comment on ongoing police matters, in order to protect the welfare of our young players, we feel it is necessary to confirm that the allegations do not relate to anyone at Wolves,” the club said.

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