Foxes players in Spanish custody

Eight Leicester City footballers were in custody in Spain tonight after three women claimed they had been sexually assaulted in a hotel room.

The players, who were on a warm weather training break at the exclusive La Manga resort in the Costa del Sol, are alleged to have forced their way into a room where the women claim they were attacked.

The alleged victims – who were African-born according to Spanish TV channel Telecinco – were found to have injuries to various parts of their body when examined by doctors at Alicante general hospital, police in Cartagena said.

Nine players were arrested yesterday after the women complained to police on Monday, police said.

Four were arrested for sexual assault and breaking and entering, one for assault and breaking and entering, and three for breaking and entering and leaving a crime scene without offering assistance.

The ninth was arrested for leaving a crime scene without offering assistance but was later released.

The eight players were appearing in court this evening over the allegations.

Spanish television pictures showed several players being led into a police van.

Among them were defenders Matt Elliott and Frank Sinclair and reserve team goalkeeper Danny Coyne.

Elliott was arrested in connection with breaking and entering and leaving a crime scene without offering assistance, Sinclair with sexual assault and breaking and entering and Coyne with breaking and entering and leaving crime scene without offering assistance.

German midfielder Steffen Freund was released after being questioned over leaving a crime scene without offering assistance.

The women, who were staying in hotel Los Belones in Cartagena, had been intending to return to Germany, where they are believed to live, but were persuaded by police to remain in the country to be interviewed, police said.

As well as their injuries the three women gave the police a bracelet, which was apparently broken by one of the aggressors, as well as torn underpants with blood.

The women separately identified by photograph the footballers alleged to have carried out the assaults, establishing the level of involvement of each one of them.

A police statement said: “Agents of the judicial police, of the Cartagena division of the national police, arrested nine people, all members of English football club Leicester City, in relation to a sexual assault alleged by three women.”

The players appeared before a judge this morning before being taken into judicial custody, police added.

According to an account given by a member of the hotel staff, where the assaults were alleged to have taken place, the footballers had arrived that night apparently drunk and fighting between themselves and other customers.

The rest of the squad cut short the week-long trip and flew back to England last night though club officials stressed they had not been thrown out of their hotel.

Leicester City issued a statement which said: “The club are aware that a number of players have been interviewed by Spanish police as a result of alleged incidents which took place during a club training camp in Spain.

“The club are co-operating fully with the authorities in their investigations but, as these investigations are still ongoing, is not in a position to make any further comment at this stage.”

It is another embarrassing episode for the East Midlands club after an incident in La Manga four years ago when striker Stan Collymore let off a fire extinguisher in a bar and the squad were asked to leave their hotel.

La Manga managing director Tony Coles said today: “I can confirm there was an incident.

“It is between two parties, the hotel is not involved.

“The matter is sub judice.”

He refused to comment further.

The club’s chief executive Tim Davies is understood to have flown out to Spain to join manager Micky Adams, who has remained with the players.

Leicester, who are battling possible relegation from the Premiership, 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.