Premier League footballer accused of rape: Police pass file to CPS
The Metropolitan Police has provided a full file of evidence about a Premier League footballer accused of rape to the Crown Prosecution Service.
The detectives’ decision to ask prosecutors to weigh up potential charges against the leading player will send shockwaves through the player’s club.
Telegraph Sport had revealed in July 2022 how the prominent international had been arrested at a property in Barnet after a woman in her 20s came forward.
He was further arrested on suspicion of two other rapes that were alleged to have taken place against a different woman in her 20s in April and June 2021.
However, to the dismay of some politicians and women’s groups, the player, in his 30s, has continued to play on a full salary for his club.
Meanwhile, the Met Police has been pursuing a lengthy and complex investigation into multiple claims of rape. In February 2023, the footballer was interviewed under caution in relation to an alleged sexual offence that had taken place relating to a third potential victim.
Police subsequently decided to take no further action in relation to the 2021 allegations. On November 7 last year, the suspect attended a police station and was again questioned under caution as part of the investigation. Scotland Yard had said that investigation remains ongoing, covering offences that took place between 2021 and 2023. If offences took place in 2023, that would suggest claims continued after his initial arrest.
A Met Police spokesperson told Telegraph Sport: “Met officers are investigating following a number of reports of alleged sexual offences between 2021 and 2023.
“A full file has been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and detectives continue to work with prosecutors.
“Those who have come forward to police continue to receive support from Met officers.”
The player cannot be named for legal reasons and his club has never commented on his arrest. He remains under contract as one of his club’s best-paid players on hundreds of thousands of pounds a week and has been a first-team regular throughout.