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4 March 2004
CARTAGENA – Nine footballers from the British club Leicester City players were arrested Thursday by Spanish police in relation to allegations of sexual assault against three women.
The allegations were made at Alicante airport by the women, who were heading home to Germany after a holiday in the area, police in Cartagena confirmed.
Eight of the players are being questioned by police as a result of alleged incidents during their training camp at La Manga, near Cartagena, in south-east Spain.
One of the players was released on bail while the eight others remained in custody.
The club had flown out to La Manga for some warm-weather training before returning at the weekend for the final leg of their battle to stay in the Barclaycard Premiership.
But for the second time City’s trip to the Spanish resort will be remembered for the wrong reasons.
The rest of the squad have flown back to England after cutting short their stay.
Four years ago, striker Stan Collymore set off a fire extinguisher in a hotel bar and the squad were asked to leave their hotel and returned home.
A club spokesman confirmed to the Press Association: “The club is aware that eight players have been interviewed by Spanish police.
“This is a result of alleged incidents which took place during the club’s training camp in Spain this week.
“The club is co-operating fully with the authorities in their investigations but, as these investigations are still ongoing, it is not in a position to make any further comments at this stage.”
City’s chief executive Tim Davies is understood to have flown out to Spain to meet up with manager Micky Adams who has remained with the players.
Bad publicity surrounding an incident such as this is the last thing that Adams would have wanted with his side in such a precarious position in the Premiership.
Leicester flew out to Spain on Sunday on the back of a run of 15 league and cup games without a win stretching back three months.
Toni Coles, managing director of the La Manga complex, told the Leicester Mercury: “There has been an incident. The matter is between two independent parties. The hotel is not involved. I have nothing else to say.”
Subject: Spanish news