Tel Aviv players freed in Sweden rape probe
Two members of an Israeli football club were detained on Friday at Gothenburg's Landvetter Airport after police received a report they were involved in an alleged rape.
By Friday afternoon, prosecutors had released both players.
"The players have been released and are free to return to Israel," said vice prosecutor Mats Eriksson to the Göteborgs-Posten newspaper.
The two Hapoel Tel Aviv players, Israeli Itay Shechter and Brazilian national Douglas da Silva, were detained after a reported rape following the team's victory over IFK Gothenburg.
"What I can say is that we have taken in the two Hapoel Tel Aviv players for questioning. They will be interviewed with the help of a translator during the course of Friday," Stefan Gustavsson of Gothenburg police told The Local early in the day on Friday.
The players were detained at Gothenburg's Landvetter Airport as the team was making its way back to Israel.
"The players were not arrested and are not currently suspected of any offence. We have received a report, which we are investigating, and the case has been classified as rape."
According to reports in the Israeli media the men had ordered female escorts, who accompanied them to the Radisson SAS hotel near Gothenburg's central train station. The complaint is reported to be a result of a financial dispute between the players and the women.
"I can not comment on the circumstances of the investigation," Stefan Gustavsson told The Local.
Hapoel Tev Aviv arrived in Sweden on Tuesday under tight security and were met by demonstrations against the first leg of the two match UEFA Europa League tie.
The match finished 1-3 in Hapoel Tel Aviv's favour despite IFK Gothenburg taking the lead through Tobias Hysén.
The return match will be held in Tel Aviv on August 6th.
Comments
See Also
By Friday afternoon, prosecutors had released both players.
"The players have been released and are free to return to Israel," said vice prosecutor Mats Eriksson to the Göteborgs-Posten newspaper.
The two Hapoel Tel Aviv players, Israeli Itay Shechter and Brazilian national Douglas da Silva, were detained after a reported rape following the team's victory over IFK Gothenburg.
"What I can say is that we have taken in the two Hapoel Tel Aviv players for questioning. They will be interviewed with the help of a translator during the course of Friday," Stefan Gustavsson of Gothenburg police told The Local early in the day on Friday.
The players were detained at Gothenburg's Landvetter Airport as the team was making its way back to Israel.
"The players were not arrested and are not currently suspected of any offence. We have received a report, which we are investigating, and the case has been classified as rape."
According to reports in the Israeli media the men had ordered female escorts, who accompanied them to the Radisson SAS hotel near Gothenburg's central train station. The complaint is reported to be a result of a financial dispute between the players and the women.
"I can not comment on the circumstances of the investigation," Stefan Gustavsson told The Local.
Hapoel Tev Aviv arrived in Sweden on Tuesday under tight security and were met by demonstrations against the first leg of the two match UEFA Europa League tie.
The match finished 1-3 in Hapoel Tel Aviv's favour despite IFK Gothenburg taking the lead through Tobias Hysén.
The return match will be held in Tel Aviv on August 6th.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.