Soccer hit by new scandal

Premiership football suffered a fresh scandal today after it emerged that four more top players have been questioned by police, this time in connection with an alleged assault on a woman outside a nightclub.

Newcastle United and Wales star Craig Bellamy, 22, was cautioned after a 20-year-old student alleged he hit her in the face as she jokingly pretended to "hitch a lift" in teammate Kieron Dyer's £50,000 Mercedes as the players prepared to drive home.

Dyer, 22, and fellow players, Carl Cort, 24, and Wayne Quinn, 25, were also quizzed by police but only Bellamy faced action over the fracas, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Newcastle's Quayside.

Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd today said the club would launch its own inquiry into the affair, which could result in disciplinary action against Bellamy.

Mr Shepherd said: "We are aware of the allegations which have been made against certain of our players and shall be conducting our own internal investigation immediately. At present the club has nothing further to say on the matter."

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