The Premier League team of the player who was detained on rape suspicion was informed of a second rape accusation against the player last fall as per reports.
An “internationally recognized” footballer in his late 20s was arrested and detained in north London on Monday, according to The Telegraph, in connection with an alleged assault that is believed to have happened in June.
The unidentified footballer, who was scheduled to represent his nation at the next World Cup in Qatar, was taken into custody at a Barnet house.
He was later detained again on suspicion of two further rape assaults that were allegedly conducted against a different woman in April and June of last year.
According to The Guardian, the player’s Premier League club was aware of a rape allegation made against him last season but the club allowed him to play for the first team.
When reached by The Guardian, the anonymous Premier League club declined to comment.
The arrest and subsequent detention of a man in Barnet on Monday resulted in his release on bail the following day, according to the Metropolitan Police.
According to a statement from Scotland Yard, the police received a report of a rape accusation involving a lady in her 20s on July 4. The alleged rape reportedly took place 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.”
“He has subsequently been released on bail to a date in August. Inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.”
The player’s first arrest and the charge against him were further described in a report that The Sun published on Tuesday.
According to the report, the footballer, who was referred to as “one of the greatest at his Premier League side,” is said to have been detained after a lady accused him of raping her while they were on vacation in the Mediterranean.
The woman, who is also in her 20s, allegedly showed police pictures of “bruises” after reporting the alleged incident, which she claims happened last month when she was on vacation with the player. The claimed victim took a flight home after leaving the five-star resort where she was lodged with the footballer.
She met with police upon her arrival in the UK and gave a thorough interview to officers on Sunday while presenting them with pictures of what she claimed to be bruises on her body following the alleged incident.
The Premier League season is scheduled to begin on August 5, and the player is now expected to miss his club’s preseason tour while the investigations proceed.
