CPS files Premier League footballer’s rape claim

The Metropolitan Police has sent a full evidence file about a Premier League footballer accused of rape to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a charging decision, the BBC has been told.

The CPS said it was carefully reviewing the file of evidence in relation to one individual, while the Met said it was continuing to investigate following reports of alleged sexual offenses between 2021 and 2023.

It moves from A bbc news investigation In which five women were talked to who had accused the footballer of rape, sexual harassment or controlling behaviour.

Despite four of the women reporting the man, who we’re calling Player X, to police, he has continued to play for his Premier League club.

One of the women, who we’re calling Kira, first reported Player Has had an impact.

He previously told the BBC that following a lack of action from the club and governing body the Football Association (FA) in response to the allegations, he contacted their security teams, leading him to try to take his life.

She said, “I didn’t want to live in a world where I was constantly reminded that rape allegations could be ignored as long as you were talented enough.”

Another woman said she believed that if Player

A BBC investigation found that players or owners of seven of the 20 Premier League clubs have been investigated by police for sexual offenses since 2020.

Both the FA and the Premier League say they take sexual misconduct very seriously.

Player Shortly after, he was also arrested on earlier charges of raping a second woman, who reported him to police in August 2021.

He was questioned by police in February 2023 regarding allegations of sexual harassment made by a third woman.

In November 2024 the footballer was questioned by police about a 2023 rape allegation made by a fourth woman.

Privacy rules regarding the identity of suspects mean the BBC is not naming the footballer. The BBC believes the player has denied wrongdoing.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told the BBC on Wednesday: “A full file has been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

“Those who have come to the police continue to receive support from Met officers.”

The player’s club and the Premier League previously told the BBC they were unable to comment on the ongoing police investigation.

After first going to the police in August 2021, Kira “in frustration” emailed the FA, the Premier League and the club about his allegations the following month, as he was concerned that he would continue playing on such a big stage while the investigation was underway. Will keep. ,

The club told him it could not discuss his allegations for legal reasons. The Premier League referred him to the FA.

More than four months after she contacted the FA about her allegations, it told her in an email that it could take “no further action” as the alleged behavior did not breach its rules.

It said there is “no evidence” that Player X “poses a risk of harm to at-risk children or adults”. It sent him a PDF document titled “Football’s Child Protection Policy” – which did not apply to him.

“They were hiding behind their lack of policies, even though they knew the rules they put in place were designed to protect profits, not victims,” says Kira.

In July 2024, Kira again contacted the club, the Premier League and the FA – sending them evidence that she was a “vulnerable adult”.

In an email seen by the BBC, the club told him they had forwarded his correspondence to the Premier League and the FA. The Premier League told him it was currently unable to discuss the allegations pending a police investigation. And the FA told him it could not share any details or updates regarding whether any FA intervention had been made.

“Additionally, we refer to our email…where we stated that we are not the individual’s employer,” it added.

Speaking about the backlash, Kira told the BBC that her correspondence “reinforced a destructive message that I don’t matter, that more women coming forward doesn’t matter, and even when It won’t matter if I meet the safety requirements.”

Another woman – Mia – said she believed that if the FA and the club had taken action when they first became aware of the rape allegation in 2021, she would not have gone to Player Where she alleged that he sexually assaulted her.

“If they had decided to take the allegation seriously in the first place… if they had suspended him, I would never have been in the position I was in that day,” she told the BBC.

“I had to suffer because of his decision,” he said.

Although the FA has detailed policies for players accused of betting on sports, there is no such policy for players accused of sexual or domestic violence that occurs outside the football environment.

Some lawyers in the UK have noted the many legal difficulties facing football clubs when they consider how to deal with a player facing allegations of sexual or domestic violence, without blanket rules.

An FA spokesperson said: “Our safeguarding policies and procedures allow us to support and protect at-risk children and adults in football-related environments.”

“Regardless of where the incident occurred, if an individual has any role in football, we always carry out a thorough safeguarding risk assessment and take appropriate action if we believe there is a risk of harm to children. “We are unable to comment on specific cases, but that does not mean we have not taken the necessary actions or implemented appropriate safeguards within our jurisdiction.”

And if you are affected by any of the issues in this story, Contact the BBC Action Line For details of advice and support.