Police warning over internet naming of ‘gang rape’ footballers
Online news providers and message boards could face legal action over an alleged gang rape involving eight Premiership footballers.
Police have confirmed that they are investigating allegations made by a 17-year-old girl after an incident in a London hotel over the weekend, but have refused to release any details.
Since the story first broke the identities of the players involved have been the topic of intense speculation.
Yesterday, the Attorney General issued a memo to editors, warning them against action that could prejudice any possible trial.
However, the Internet is somewhat more difficult to regulate and there are fears that a number of players have been named on football gossip sites and message boards.
A number of sites have been forced to close to avoid the possibility of being sued.
Office workers have been warned they could end up in court if they speculate by email on the names of the players involved and lawyers for one of the players have already taken action against an employee of one large company.
Reports circulated today that Scotland Yard may liase with other police forces abroad about any previous complaints against the accused players.
However, Scotland Yard said it was unable to comment on the claims and repeated calls to the media to ensure reporting on the case is responsible.
The Sun newspaper reported that the girl says she was held down and called a “slag” as the players attacked her at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, west London.
The teenager, believed to be a sixth form student at a Catholic school, reported the incident to police and has been examined. Police are studying CCTV footage taken from the hotel and forensic experts have examined the room in which the alleged incident took place.
The alleged victim has admitted to having had consensual sex with one of the players, but claims that several other footballers entered the room and attacked her.
Police are also understood to have taken DNA samples from the players.
