CPS given file over Premier League footballer rape claims

According to the BBC, the Metropolitan Police have submitted a full evidence file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a charging decision.

The Met said it is continuing to look into alleged sexual offences reported between 2021 and 2023, while the CPS stated it is carefully reviewing the file of evidence relating to a man.

This follows on from a BBC News investigation which spoke to five women who accused the footballer of rape, sexual assault or controlling behaviour.

Due to the severe emotional impact the lengthy process has had on her, one of the women, who we are calling Kira, first reported Player X to the police in August 2021.

She previously claimed that her attempted suicide was a result of her contacting the club’s safeguarding teams, which in turn contributed to her attempting to kill herself. She previously claimed that the club and governing body, the Football Association (FA), had not taken any action in response to the allegations.

She said, “I didn’t want to live in a world where I’m constantly reminded that rape allegations can be brushed aside as long as you have the necessary talent.”

Another woman expressed her disapproval of Player X’s allegations that she would not have continued to be sexually assaulted if his club or the FA had suspended him.

Since 2020, according to the BBC investigation, seven out of twenty Premier League clubs have had players or managers subject to sexual investigation by the police.

Both the FA and Premier League claim to take sexual misconduct seriously.

In July of this year, Player X was first detained in July of that year on suspicion of rape. Shortly after that, he was also detained for a second woman’s report to the police in August 2021, who had previously alleged rape against him.

In February of this year, he was interrogated by the police about accusations of sexual assault by a third woman.

The footballer was questioned by the police again in November 2024 over a rape allegation made by a fourth woman in 2023.

The BBC does not name the footballer because of privacy laws governing the identification of suspects. The player has denied wrongdoing, the BBC understands.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has received a full file, according to a Metropolitan Police spokesperson, who spoke to the BBC on Wednesday.

The Met officers continue to support those who have contacted them.

Kira emailed the FA, Premier League, and the club about her allegations the following month in “desperation,” as she was concerned about him continuing to play on such a massive platform while he was being investigated.

The club told her it couldn’t discuss her allegations for legal reasons. She was directed to the FA by the Premier League.

The FA informed her in emails that it could take no further action because the alleged behavior did not violate its rules, more than four months after she contacted her about her allegations.

There was no evidence to suggest that Player X poses a risk of harm to children or adults at risk, according to the statement. It sent her a PDF document that was titled” Football’s Safeguarding Children policy “- which did not apply to her.

They were concealing their lack of regulations because they knew that the laws they did in place were intended to protect profits, not victims, Kira claims.

Kira once more contacted the club, Premier League, and FA in July 2024, expressing her “vulnerable adult” status.

The club informed her that they had passed her correspondence to the Premier League and FA in an email that was seen by the BBC. The Premier League informed her that there was no discussion of the allegations that were being investigated by the police. And the FA informed her that it was unable to disclose any information or updates regarding any FA interventions.

” Further, we refer to our email…where we explained we are not the employer of the individual, “it added.

Speaking about the response Kira told the BBC their correspondence has” reinforced a devastating message that I don’t matter, that more women coming forward doesn’t matter, and that even when I meet safeguarding requirements, it will never matter”.

Mia, a different woman, claims that she wouldn’t have later gone to Player X’s house where she claims he sexually assaulted her if the FA and club had responded when they were first called to an alleged rape allegation in 2021.

I never would have been in the same situation as she was when they had made the decision to take the first allegation seriously, she told the BBC.

” Their decision caused me to suffer, “she said.

There are no comparable rules in place for players who are accused of domestic or sexual violence outside of the football field, despite the FA’s stricter rules for those who are accused of betting on the game.

Our safeguarding procedures and policies help us support and protect children and adults in a football-related environment, according to a FA spokesperson.