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.
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.
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.’
source dailymail.uk
