CHELSEA STAR IS ACCUSED OF RAPE
CHELSEA star Callum HudsonOdoi was arrested on suspicion of rape following a meeting with a woman at his south-west London home on Sunday morning.
The 19-year-old has been released from custody and reported to Chelsea’s Cobham base yesterday for a coronavirus test ahead of the return to group training this week.
Sportsmail reported HudsonOdoi’s arrest yesterday but it later emerged the England forward had been detained after the woman, who was taken to hospital, accused him of rape.
A police spokesman said: ‘Police and London Ambulance Service were called at 03:53hrs on Sunday, May 17, to a report of an unwell woman. When emergency services attended, a woman reported that she had been raped. She was taken to hospital.
‘A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of rape. He was released from custody and bailed to return on a date in mid-June.’
Hudson-Odoi retreated to the family home near Wimbledon yesterday.
He revealed in March that he had contracted coronavirus and, despite having a Covid-19 test yesterday, there is now doubt over whether the teenager can return to training this week after ignoring lockdown advice in the incident that led to his arrest.
Premier League clubs were cleared to resume training in small groups yesterday but, even if Hudson-Odoi tests negative, Chelsea may refuse to let him join in, given he has broken guidelines by coming into contact with people outside his household.
Hudson-Odoi’s representatives and Chelsea both declined to comment last night.
The clamour around the teenager has barely ceased since Bayern Munich tried to sign him for £30million in January 2019.
There was a long transfer chase, England recognition, a change of heart, the appeal of a new Chelsea boss in Frank Lampard and a new contract at Stamford Bridge.
But there have been struggles, too: a serious injury, the long haul back to fitness, inconsistent form and only one top-flight goal amid soaring levels of expectation.
He returned from this season’s winter break with a hamstring strain, has not appeared since and was the first Premier League player to test positive for coronavirus as the campaign was suspended on March 13.
Now what was already proving a difficult season for Hudson-Odoi has taken an unpleasant twist.
The teenager’s Chelsea contract was running down at the time of Bayern’s interest and he was reluctant to sign another because of limited first-team chances.
He sparkled in training but could not convince then manager Maurizio Sarri to give him more competitive action.
Chelsea fans, desperate to see academy graduates emerge, made their feelings known as the mood turned against the Italian. Sarri used him mostly in the Europa League and spoke of the need to see a greater contribution defensively. There was also Eden Hazard on the left wing. Gareth Southgate, however, showed no hesitation, handing Hudson-Odoi a first cap in March last year.
At 18 years and 135 days, he was straight into the top ten of youngest England internationals.
By the time Sarri was replaced by Lampard, there was a transfer ban and Chelsea’s best youngsters were needed to forge a revolution. Bayern’s interest had also cooled.
But, in April last year, injury halted Hudson-Odoi’s rapid progress. A torn Achilles ruled him out for five months. He recovered quickly and returned to score the seventh goal in a 7-1 rout of League Two Grimsby in September.
Six days before that Carabao Cup tie, Chelsea confirmed he had signed a new five-year deal, thought to start at £120,000 a week.
His form has hardly merited that, however. He has found it hard to make an impact after his injury and has been unable to force his way into the team.
Last season, under Sarri, Hudson-Odoi started 12 games in all competitions, made 12 outings as a sub and scored five goals. This season, he had started 12 games in all competitions, plus 13 as a sub, and scored three goals.
Two goals in two games, against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup and Burnley, his first in Premier League football, hinted that he might recapture his rhythm.
But when the season was suspended two months ago, the big buzz at Stamford Bridge was about another teen — 18-year-old Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour.
Hudson-Odoi has stolen the attention back. But, this time, not for his football.