Prosecutors are now ‘carefully’ examining a dossier of evidence about a Premier League footballer accused of rape.
Officers from the Crown Prosecution Service will decide whether to charge the well-known international after receiving a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police.
No timeline has been set for next steps. The player, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is in his 30s and has continued to play for his side despite initially being arrested in July 2022.
The investigation concerns criminal offenses allegedly involving two victims and committed between 2021 and 2023. CPS officials have said they are ‘carefully examining’ the file.
It is understood that any decision to lay charges will be made independently and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. In similar cases, a period of three to six months is common before decisions are made. Should charges be filed, the case would normally go to trial, with the player invited to enter a plea. Should they be dropped, he would be free to continue his career.
On Wednesday, Met Police confirmed a file had been transferred to the CPS.
Crown Prosecution Service officials are now assessing the file of evidence passed to them relating to a Premier League player accused of rape
A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘Met officers are investigating following a number of reports of alleged sexual offenses between 2021 and 2023.
‘A full file has been transferred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and detectives continue to work with prosecutors.
“Those who have reported to police are continuing to receive support from Met officers.”
The football club has not yet commented on the matter and continues to take that position. He is one of their highest paid players with hundreds of thousands of pounds and is a regular in the first team.