Three Premiership stars are rape case suspects

Three Premiership footballers are now said to be suspects in the gang rape scandal, it emerged today.

The alleged victim, who is 17, named three players from high-profile clubs as the men who attacked her at the £400-a-night Grosvenor House hotel in Park Lane.

The development comes as the teenager is said to be distraught as she waits for the outcome of an HIV test today.

Detectives from Scotland Yard's Operation Tougo rape inquiry team are also expecting final results from DNA tests on the girl and items taken from the room.

One source said: "We hope this will give some clarity on what has become a highly complex inquiry." Police are still working through a list of hundreds of people who were working or staying at the hotel on the night of 26 September and in the early hours of the following morning when the rape is alleged to have occurred.

Detectives are also talking to what is described as a useful witness who contacted them at the weekend.

Publicist Max Clifford, who is advising the teenager and her family, told the Sun: "The girl's father told me she has given police the names of three Premiership players as those who allegedly raped her. I do not know all the circumstances but I know she saw the police on Friday when she had an HIV test and I presume she identified the players then.

"She is still in a very bad way and is hoping that the police will help her bring these men to court."

The teenager, who is particularly angry at claims that she consented to sex with all the players, is understood to have named the footballers herself. The girl claimed she willingly had sex with one person and then others joined in and she pleaded with them to stop.

One footballer was quizzed by reporters as he jumped into his Mercedes outside his London flat but he insisted: "No comment."