French international striker Gomis in court over alleged rape

Lyon's French international striker Bafetimbi Gomis and former St Etienne player Yohan Benalouane are to appear before a judge on Friday in connection with the alleged rape of a 38-year-old woman. 

Reuters

The two men were questioned on Wednesday over the alleged incident and both deny any involvement.

The woman contacted police on Wednesday morning to lodge a complaint against the two men claiming she was forced to have sexual relations at Gomis’s home after an evening of heavy drinking.

According to Radio France, the alleged incident was filmed with the mobile phone of one of the players. A copy of the film is in police hands.

Gomis, 26, began his career at Lyon's bitter rivals Saint-Etienne before moving to the Stade de Gerland for 15 million euros in 2009.

He has been capped five times by France, and was part of Les Bleus' squad at Euro 2008, but was not picked by Laurent Blanc for this summer's European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

It is not the first time top players in the French league have been accused of rape.

Marseille striker Brandao, a Brazilian, was charged with rape on 9 March 2011.

He was accused of raping a 24-year-old woman whom he had met in a nightclub.

He was granted bail and subsequently loaned to Brazilian club Cruzeiro before returning to the French club in January.