Girl questioned over footballer rape claim

Detectives interviewed a 17-year-old girl yesterday who claimed she was raped by a Premiership footballer at a London hotel while other players were in the room.

The teenager reported the alleged attack to police in central London at the weekend and said up to eight footballers were present during the alleged attack.

She is believed to have told police she met one of the players and consented to sex when he took her back to the five-star hotel.

Seven other players then came into the room and it was then the alleged rape took place, according to reports.

The woman was taken to a police station by a male friend after the attack. She was said to be "terribly upset" by what had happened.

The allegation was being investigated by detectives from Operation Sapphire, the team dedicated to looking into sex crimes. Forensic examinations were carried out at the hotel on Sunday where the alleged attack occurred.

Scotland Yard yesterday declined to name any team or players involved in the incident. Players from at least one team were claimed to have been involved and they are alleged to have included "household names".