Accused Leicester players fly home as club launches its own inquiry

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/mar/13/football

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Paul Dickov, Frank Sinclair and Keith Gillespie flew into Luton airport from Alicante yesterday after their representatives paid bail of €288,000 (£196,000).

Mr Dickov's bail was set at €120,000, while Mr Sinclair and Mr Gillespie paid €60,000 each. The players also paid a €48,000 "civil responsibility fee" before leaving Spain.

The three, who had spent six nights in prison, deny sexually assaulting three German women at a hotel in La Manga where the club was on a training break.

A condition of bail is that the men will have to report to the Spanish consulate in London on an intermittent basis while the authorities in Spain continue their investigations into the case.

"The inquiry is still ongoing," said Leicester City's chief operating officer, Paul Mace. "There's no trial date set and there is still further forensic evidence that is being awaited by the judge."

It could be as long as a year before the case goes to court and, in the meantime, Leicester City will conduct its own investigation with the help of statements taken by the Spanish authorities.

And while the club is backing the players' protestations of innocence, it says it is determined to establish the sequence of events that resulted in nine of its players being questioned by Spanish police and the subsequent sullying of its reputation.

The alleged incidents occurred during a night out that had been sanctioned by Micky Adams, the team manager, who admitted a "minority" of his players drank too much. "If they are guilty of anything, it is of a late-night drink, hardly the biggest crime that has ever been committed," said Mr Adams who, with the club's director of football, Dave Bassett, and chief executive, Tim Davies, will begin the investigation on Monday.

"We'll be talking to the players and although there won't be a knee-jerk reaction from us, this is not something we want to postpone," added Mr Mace.

"There is a duty to ensure we take appropriate action and there are a variety of actions open to us.

"There are situations we need to avoid in the future and, without giving too much away, the players' bar will now be alcohol-free and that is one of a variety of initiatives we're looking to introduce."

The three players will not be involved in today's Premiership match at Birmingham City and, while they will be expected to help the internal investigation, the club has not decided how much time to give them off before they resume their normal duties.

"It's been a very traumatic time for the players and especially their families," said Mr Mace. "I think they will wish to spend some time now with their families."