Villa denies its players involved in rape allegations

Aston Villa has denied that any of its players were involved in the alleged gang rape of a teenager.

It makes them the first Premiership club to make a public statement on the matter.

The Birmingham team was one of six Premiership clubs playing in London last weekend when a 17-year-old girl alleges she was attacked at a top hotel.

A Villa spokesman said: "We can categorically confirm that neither Aston Villa nor any of its players are being investigated in relation to the alleged incident in London at the weekend."

The sixth-former at a Catholic school who made the claims said she consented to sex with one player at the exclusive Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, central London, but was then attacked by a group of up to seven others.

The players alleged to have been involved are from more than one Premiership club.

Newspapers are unable to print their names for legal reasons but rumours about their identities have flooded the internet and circulated among fans.

Lawyers for some of the footballers have threatened legal action if their names are published.

Scotland Yard's Operation Sapphire team, which deals with sex crime, has carried out forensic tests on items taken from the hotel and is expected to wait for the results before interviewing the players. It is also looking at CCTV pictures.