Six professional footballers held over alleged sex attack on woman

Six footballers have been arrested by police investigating a sex attack. Five Brighton players and one from AFC Bournemouth, have been held on suspicion of the alleged sexual assault of a woman in Brighton last July, Sussex Police said. Five of the men - aged 18, 19, two aged 20 and one aged 24 - are from Brighton. A sixth man, aged 20, understood to be former Brighton and current Bournemouth player Steve Cook, is from Dorset. The alleged attack was reported to police at the time but the suspects were identified only last Friday. Police were waiting to arrest a number of Brighton players when they arrived back at their ground (pictured) in the early hours of the morning Police were waiting at Brighton FC’s ground in the early hours of this morning for the players who were returning by coach from their FA Cup victory away to Wrexham. The team’s coach was also searched by plain-clothed police officers.                Police confirmed that four men were held in Brighton at 4.20am today. A fifth was arrested in the city at about 7.20am and the sixth in Dorset at 10.30am. There was no comment from the club. The identities of the players from the Championship side, managed by Gus Poyet, have not been revealed. Disclosure of the arrests came after the club settled their FA Cup third round replay against non-league Wrexham 5-4 on penalties last night. The result earned the Seagulls a money-spinning tie against Premier League side Newcastle at their Amex stadium. A spokesman for the club said: 'Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club can confirm that five men associated with the club are assisting police into the investigation of an alleged offence in July last year. 'The club will make no further comment at this stage.' A Sussex Police spokesman said: 'All have been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and taken to different custody centres in Sussex where they will be questioned in relation to an alleged sexual assault on a woman in July last year. 'This was reported at the time and the suspects were identified on Friday last week, leading to these arrests.' A statement on Bournemouth's website said: 'AFC Bournemouth can confirm that an unnamed player is assisting police with the investigation of an alleged offence in July last year. 'The club will make no further comment at this stage.'

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