French football is braced for another possible child prostitution scandal after it emerged that an international player was under suspicion for allegedly soliciting a teenaged girl, reports The Guardian.
The Paris prosecutors' office confirmed that a preliminary inquiry into prostitution of a minor had been opened and a France international was under suspicion after a teenage girl was arrested for shoplifting.
The girl, who is now 16, was arrested late last year in central Paris and found to be carrying drugs and fake ID. Police suspected that someone in her entourage intended to push her into paid sex and had given her cocaine. On investigation of her phone, police found the name of one French international footballer and another player from France's Ligue 1.
Text messages and photographs were also found on the phone. French media reported that the names of a rapper and a TV reality show contestant might also have been found on the phone.
No charges have been made so far, and the investigation by child protection officers continues.
The prosecutors' office told Associated Press: "Checks have to be made first of all. For the moment it is [a case of] suspicion."
Read more of this report from The Guardian.