England and Newcastle United footballer Kieron Dyer has denied any involvement with an alleged attack on a 17-year-old girl in a London hotel.

In a statement issued through his lawyers to 'set the record straight and put an end to the massive speculation', Dyer, 24, said his family had been hounded and 'my reputation has been damaged in the most public way possible'.

Dyer said: 'I had no involvement in this matter let alone being 'at the centre of it' as suggested in emails, websites and elsewhere.'

He said: 'Until now I have felt trapped and it has been very frustrating that I have been unable to clarify publicly the facts which clearly exonerate me, whilst the police conduct their inquiries.'

In a detailed statement, Dyer said: 'This whole matter has been very distressing for me.'

The footballer, who is on international duty with the England squad in Turkey for a crucial Euro 2004 qualifier, added: 'I recognise that the claims made by the woman involved are of the most serious nature, and warrant a thorough investigation, that is without doubt.

'I do not wish to trivialise these serious allegations. It is for this reason that I have not stated by position until now.'

Dyer spoke out after two other footballers were arrested today by detectives investigating the woman's allegation that she was gang-raped by Premiership players.

The men, aged 22 and 19, attended two London police stations by appointment where they were arrested and remained in police custody, Scotland Yard said.

The older man was later released on police bail. The arrests brought to four the number of men quizzed about the allegations so far.

A 27-year-old man arrested yesterday was bailed by police last night pending further inquiries.

On Wednesday party organiser Nicholas Meikle, 29, was arrested and bailed over the accusations after going voluntarily to a police station.

The teenager claims she willingly had sex with one man but was then gang-raped by a group of others, including several Premiership footballers, at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane on September 27.

Meikle, from Catford, south London, said on Wednesday night that he welcomed the police investigation which he hoped would clear him over the 'groundless' allegations.

Meikle said the girl agreed to have sex with him.

He claims she then consented to sex with one of his friends and two Premiership footballers from two different clubs and that at no stage was she raped.

The investigation into the girl's claims is being carried out by Scotland Yard's Operation Sapphire team, which handles sex crimes.

Rumours about the identities of the football players allegedly involved have flooded the internet and circulated among fans but the media have so far not published their names.

Dyer said: 'Despite intense pressure, I have respectfully maintained a dignified silence' whilst the police have been undertaking their initial investigations.

'I now feel its appropriate for me to set the record straight and put an end to the massive speculation.'

He went on: 'Contrary to much of what has been reported, the facts are as follows.

'After playing our match against Arsenal on the night of 26 September, I went to the Grosvenor House Hotel.

'I checked in together with several other people and totally unbeknownst to me, the hotel entered the other peoples' rooms under my name. I checked into the hotel at approximately 11pm.

'One of my representatives and a friend met me at the hotel shortly thereafter and we left together at approximately 11.30pm.

'We went to Sketch on Conduit St in W1 and the three of us remained there until it closed, leaving at about 2.20am. A photograph of me leaving the club has already been published.

'My friend and I were dropped back at the hotel and went directly to our room, alone, where we stayed until late the next morning. The following day we left the hotel for lunch completely unaware of anything having happened.

'Unfortunately, the fact that my name was mistakenly attached to someone else's room has provoked wild speculation.'

He said he was 'appalled by a supposedly `blurred' photograph of me that appeared during a storm of publicity which had suggested that I was at the centre of the criminal investigation.

'I was obviously identifiable generally and also from the photograph, as has been proved by the vast amount of e-mail, chat room/website and references elsewhere to my alleged involvement, as well as comments made to me by many people.

'This whole matter has been very distressing for me. To make matters worse, my family and friends have been hounded, and my reputation has been damaged in the most public way possible.'

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