Arsenal fan group pens open letter to the club expressing ‘genuine concerns’ amid reports that SEVEN Premier League teams have had players or staff under investigation for sexual offences

An Arsenal fan group has written to the club expressing ‘genuine concern’ over sexual violence in football.

The ‘Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence’ group want the club to vow to suspend any individuals if they were ever under criminal investigation, offer support to sexual violence victims, and communicate transparently with fans. 

It comes after Mail Sport exclusively revealed that a Premier League player was questioned by police last week over multiple allegations of sex offences. 

The man, in his 30s, is under investigation for alleged rapes of two women and a sexual offence relating to a third woman.

Police first arrested him at an address in North London in July 2022 on suspicion of rape and he has continued to play for his club since. He attended a station last Thursday and was interviewed under caution.

The man was arrested after a report of an alleged rape in June 2022 and, while in custody, further arrested on suspicion of two incidents of rape in April and June 2021. 

Mail Sport revealed that one Premier League player was last week questioned by police following multiple allegations of sex offences

No further action is being taken regarding the incident in June 2021 given relevant legislation had not yet come into effect at the time it is alleged to have occurred.

Police arrested the player again in February last year on suspicion of a sexual offence having taken place in North London in February 2022.

A BBC investigation found last year that seven Premier League clubs had had players or bosses investigated by the police for sexual offences since 2020.

Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence’s letter to the Gunners, sent on Thursday November 14, already has more than 2,400 signatures.

It reads: ‘Dear Kroenke Sports Entertainment (KSE), Arsenal Board of Directors, Management, and Staff.

‘We write to formally and collectively communicate our concerns as fans of Arsenal Football Club and followers of the sport, regarding the widespread issue of tolerating footballers facing sexual offence allegations within the game we love.

‘As fans, we feel compelled to voice our growing concerns over this troubling matter and we call upon the Club to listen. Sexual violence is a deeply ingrained societal issue, one that disproportionately affects women. We believe there is no place for it within football. We trust that you share in our conviction.

‘While we recognise that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty, we would find any scenario in which a club was to continually select and promote a player under investigation for sexual offences deeply concerning. This would give the suggestion that success on the pitch far outweighs respect for victims of sexual violence.

The player, in his 30s, is under investigation for alleged rapes of two women and a sexual offence relating to a third woman

‘Arsenal Football Club has prided itself on representing its fans and community on and off the pitch, fostering a culture of safety and inclusivity across all spectrums of identity, including race, religion, gender, and sexuality. 

‘If, in a hypothetical situation, the aforementioned circumstance were to occur at our Club, we worry that it would undermine its reputation as well as the unity and integrity that football inspires.

‘We wish to emphasise that this letter arises from genuine concern for this wider problem, one that—were it to ever apply to the Club—would constitute a glaring violation of the moral code Arsenal has built and championed for decades.’

Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence make three demands in their letter: for the Gunners to promise to suspend any individual if they were ever under investigaion for criminal offences, to communite clearly with fans over this, and to offer ‘tangible support’ and ‘resources’ to initiatives which help victims of sexual violence.

The letter adds: ‘We urge you to recognise that football is not merely about what happens on the field, but rather about upholding values that resonate far beyond the sport. 

‘Our beloved game has the power to set an example, and to stand as a beacon of integrity and justice. For the good of the Club, the community, and the sport, we ask that you reflect and open the floor to dialogue regarding this serious matter while continuing to take steps that exhibit the values of decency, respect, and accountability.

‘We stand ready, alongside millions of other loyal supporters, unified in our desire to uphold a future for Arsenal Football Club that is not only victorious on the pitch but also ethical and worthy of admiration.’