6 footballers accused of sex attack freed on bail

SIX soccer players arrested by police investigating an alleged sex attack on a woman have been released on bail.

Five of the players were from Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion and the sixth man plays for League One side AFC Bournemouth.

All six were held yesterday morning by detectives from the Surrey and Sussex major crime team on suspicion of sexual assault.

They were questioned at different custody centres across Sussex following the alleged attack on a woman in July last year.

Last night a Sussex Police spokesman said all those arrested were freed on bail until March 21, pending further inquiries by officers.

The five from Brighton are 18, 19, two aged 20 and one 24. The Bournemouth player is 20.

The alleged attack was reported to police at the time but the suspects were only identified last Friday, according to officers.