Aussie rules footy players referred to police as detectives investigate sexual assault

What the report says

Several players from AFL club the Sydney Swans have been referred to police after an alleged incident in Melbourne, according to BBC World News. The club said it had notified the league and was working with authorities, but chief executive Matthew Pavlich did not describe the allegations or say how many players were involved. He said the club was shocked and disappointed, while also stressing that the matter was now with police.

Victoria Police said detectives are investigating a report of a sexual assault at a hotel in East Melbourne. A police spokesperson said the incident is believed to have taken place in the early hours of Sunday and that the exact circumstances have not yet been established. The BBC report says the club’s players had been in Melbourne after Sydney’s win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The case matters because it involves one of the AFL’s top teams at a critical point in the season, with the Swans sitting near the top of the ladder ahead of the final round before the finals. The BBC report says no further details have been made public and it is not clear whether any arrests have been made. As reported, the investigation remains ongoing and the league has said it is aware of the matter.