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Soccer star Robinho is held over nightclub rape claims
Kiran Randhawa28.01.09
PREMIER League footballer Robinho has been arrested over allegations of rape at a nightclub, it was revealed today.
The £32.5million Manchester City striker was questioned by police after a teenager claimed she was sexually assaulted.
The 25-year-old Brazilian, who is Britain's most expensive player, gave a routine DNA sample and spoke to officers at length, denying any wrongdoing.
He was held after an 18-year-old university student claimed she had been attacked by him in Leeds this month.
It is believed West Yorkshire police were hoping to interview Robinho, who earns £165,000 a week, when Manchester City returned from training in Tenerife last week but he made an unexpected trip home to Sao Paulo without his club's permission, citing an "important family matter".
He arrived back in Britain from Brazil on Sunday and had a pre-arranged meeting with detectives yesterday.
The rape is alleged to have happened in the VIP section of Space, a nightclub popular with wealthy footballers, in Leeds city centre. Robinho, whose full name is Robson de Souza, was out with team-mates on the night of the alleged attack on 14 January.
The woman, who is studying in Yorkshire but is from the south of England, was clubbing with friends.
Police were told the alleged rape happened after midnight. It is understood the victim, believed to be a first-year undergraduate, made no complaint when she left the club in the early hours but police were told of the allegations that afternoon.
She underwent medical and forensic tests and was interviewed on video at a suite for rape victims.
Police later visited the two-room venue, which holds up to 800 people, and carried out forensic science checks in search of evidence. They are also believed to have seized CCTV footage to help the inquiry.
Robinho's spokesman, Chris Nathaniel, said the player denied any wrongdoing and was happy to cooperate with police.
In a statement on the football star's official website, Mr Nathaniel said: "We can confirm that Robinho met the police today, as pre-arranged and as part of a criminal investigation. He strenuously denies any allegation of wrongdoing or criminality and is happy to cooperate with the police if required further."
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police refused to confirm the identity of the man but said he was released on bail.
Robinho, who lives in Cheshire with his girlfriend Vivian Guglielmetti and his 13-month-old son Robson Junior, joined Manchester City from Real Madrid last year for £32.5million, making him Britain's most expensive player. He arrived at the club following its £210million takeover by Sheikh Mansour.
Manchester City were unavailable for comment.
