14 April 2023 , 12:23
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A former Everton footballer who was arrested on suspicion of child sex offences has been cleared, police have confirmed.
The player cannot be named for legal reasons.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police told Mirror Football : "The 33-year-old man who was arrested in connection with an investigation opened in June 2021 will face no further action. The investigation team and Crown Prosecution Service have been working together and reached the decision that the evidence available at this time does not reach the threshold set out on the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
"Greater Manchester Police is committed to investigating allegations to secure the best possible outcomes for all involved and will continue to work with partner agencies to ensure individuals are supported throughout investigations and beyond."
A CPS spokesperson confirmed in February that GMP had referred the case to prosecutors more than 18 months after the player was arrested. After a receiving a file of evidence from police, the CPS were to determine whether to bring a criminal prosecution against the player, with no timescale provided.
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The player had his bail extended multiple times (Everton FC via Getty Images)He had been on bail since being arrested on July 16, 2021. The footballer was immediately suspended by his now former club, who confirmed in a statement at the time of arrest that they "will continue to support the authorities with their inquiries."
He had not been allowed to leave the country while on bail. After being arrested, the player was out on police bail until October 19, 2021. This was extended to January 16, 2022, which in turn was extended to Wednesday, 19 January.
It was then extended for a third time, until April 17, 2022. A fresh statement that month revealed a new date extended his bail to July 16, 2022 as enquiries continued.
Everton also released a statement shortly after his arrest, saying: "Everton can confirm it has suspended a player pending a police investigation. The Club will continue to support the authorities with their inquiries and will not be making any further statement at this time."