The Premier League club of a footballer arrested on Monday on suspicion of rape was aware of a rape allegation against the player last autumn, the Guardian understands. The player, who cannot be named for legal reasons, continued to play for the first team last season. The club declined to comment.
The alleged rape was reported to the Metropolitan Police in August 2021. In March 2022, the force opened an investigation into that and another alleged rape by the player of the same woman, which she had reported in February 2022. Scotland Yard confirmed the details in a statement.
The player was arrested in the early hours of Monday after a different woman reported being raped by him in June 2022. He was released on bail until August. While in custody, he was further arrested on suspicion of two additional rapes alleged to have occurred in April and June 2021 against another woman. Inquiries continue.
