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Portsmouth players linked to assault case

07/05/2008

Dorset police are appealing for witnesses after associates of Portsmouth football players celebrating their team's success in the FA Cup assaulted and badly injured two men in Bournemouth.

Pictures of a man who officers want to speak to in relation to the incident have also been released.

At around 04:20 GMT on Sunday March 9th two men assaulted two other men near Horseshoe Common in Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth.

The two victims, a 23-year-old and 21-year-old, were knocked unconscious after being punched and kicked on the floor.

The men received minor injuries and were taken to Poole hospital for treatment.

Detective Constable Adrian Turner said in a statement: "The two suspects were celebrating in Bournemouth with a group of Portsmouth Premiership footballers after the team beat Manchester United in the FA Cup competition the previous day.

"There is a strong possibility that the two suspects travelled south with the players from the Old Trafford football ground in Manchester.

"I've identified one suspect but I'm still unable to identify the second man who I believe was involved in the assault," he added.

DC Turner claimed that he had contacted Portsmouth Football Club "in an attempt to identify the unknown man but despite this I have yet to establish his identity - and my enquiries will continue until I know who he is".

"I'm now releasing pictures of a man that I'd like to speak with in connection with these serious assaults in the hope that anyone who recognises this man will contact me.

"I believe that the man in the CCTV pictures has information that is vital to the on-going investigation into these serious assaults that put two men in hospital," the police officer added.

A 27-year-old London man was arrested in connection with the incident and has since been released on bail as police enquiries continue.

Portsmouth are due to play Cardiff in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 17th.