Premier League club ‘knew of player’s rape allegation last AUTUMN and continued to play him’

The Premier League club employing the footballer accused of rape learned of the claims in autumn yet continued to play him, it has been alleged.

The international footballer in his 20s, was held on Monday after police called at his North London home.

In autumn last year he was arrested on suspicion of raping two women and told of one allegation. 

The player, who cannot be named for legal reasons, played last season.  

His club declined to comment.

The alleged rape was reported to the Metropolitan police last August but it was not until March that they opened an investigation.

Police were looking into the reported rape and another alleged rape from February. 

Scotland Yard said in a statement to the Guardian today: ‘An allegation of rape was reported to the Metropolitan Police Service in August 2021. This alleged offence happened outside the UK and the MPS transferred the report to the complainant’s home force to proceed with as appropriate and support the complainant as is standard practice.

‘In February 2022 the complainant made a further report to the MPS about an alleged offence of rape committed in London. The MPS carried out inquiries to establish if it had legal jurisdiction to investigate the allegations both abroad and in London.

‘Once jurisdiction was confirmed, the MPS began investigating both matters in March 2022. Detailed inquiries continue along with specialist support for the complainant.’

The Premier League football player was questioned over the alleged rape during a holiday in the Mediterranean last month.

On Monday he was then re-arrested on suspicion of two incidents of rape in 2021 against a different woman.

The player was released on Tuesday and is now out on bail until a date in August following his arrest.

His first alleged victim, also in her 20s, claimed she was raped in the Mediterranean last month.

She immediately left the five-star resort she was staying in and flew home, it is said.

Scotland Yard said the man aged in his late 20s was arrested in Barnet on suspicion of rape

The woman told police of the assault on her return to the UK and showed photos of bruises left on her body after the alleged attack.

 A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: ‘On 4 July, an allegation of rape of a woman in her 20s was reported to police.

‘It was reported the alleged rape happened in June 2022.

On 4 July, a 29-year-old man was arrested at an address in Barnet on suspicion of rape and taken into custody 

‘While in custody, he was further arrested on suspicion of two incidents of rape that were alleged to have been committed in April and June of 2021 against a different woman in her 20s.

‘Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.’