British police arrested a man Wednesday in connection with claims by a teenaged girl she was gang raped by several English Premiership footballers in a London hotel last month.

Nicholas Meikle, a party organiser, attended a central London police station where he was in custody on Wednesday night.

"A 29-year-old man has attended a police station by appointment today," a London police spokesman said. "He was arrested in connection with allegations of rape and sexual assault by a 17-year-old woman. He remains in custody and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

The man is the first to be arrested in connection with the allegations.

Meikle told a British Sunday newspaper that he was with a group of Premiership players being investigated in the alleged attack, and insisted that the girl had consented to have sex with him, another man and two Premiership players.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has reportedly told police she agreed to have sex with one Premiership star, but was then attacked by up to seven others in Room 316 at the Grosvenor House Hotel on September 27.

News of the arrest comes as English football has been left reeling by a string of scandals which threaten to rip up the foundations of the game's unprecedented growth over the last decade.

In the space of barely 24 hours, it has emerged that England defender Rio Ferdinand had skipped a doping test, Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy was convicted of being drunk and disorderly and that Leeds United have suspended midfielder Jody Morris while they carry out an internal investigation into allegations of a serious sexual assault.

Morris has been released on Police bail pending further enquiries after being held overnight by detectives investigating allegations of a serious sexual assault on a 20-year-old woman in Collingham.

The club said in a statement: "Leeds United AFC have had a meeting with Jody Morris and his solicitor this morning.

"In accordance with the standard provisions of the players' contract of employment he has been suspended for up to 14 days to enable the club to conduct an internal investigation."

A second man, who is not believed to be a footballer, has also been released on bail pending further enquiries into the allegations of an assault on Monday night