Football star Titus Bramble has been arrested on suspicion of rape.
The Sunderland defender was detained after the alleged rape of a young woman was reported to police in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Bramble, 29, a former England under-21 player, was being quizzed by detectives investigating the alleged attack at a Newcastle city centre hotel.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Police received a report of a rape of a woman at a city centre hotel in Newcastle in the early hours.
"Two men, aged 29 and 30, have been arrested on suspicion of rape."
The former Ipswich and Newcastle defender was signed by Sunderland manager Steve Bruce from Wigan for a fee thought to be around £1 million in the summer.
It is believed the alleged rape happened at the plush, four-star Vermont Hotel, which has an entrance close to bars and nightclubs on Newcastle's quayside.
The second man arrested was Bramble's brother, Tesfaye Bramble, police confirmed.
The 30-year-old striker, who has played international football for Montserrat, a British island in the Caribbean, plays for Eastern Counties League Premier Division club Leiston, in Suffolk.
A hotel spokesman refused to comment. Sunderland Football Club has so far not commented.
Football star Titus Bramble has been arrested on suspicion of rape.
The Sunderland defender was detained after the alleged rape of a young woman was reported to police in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Bramble, 29, a former England under-21 player, was being quizzed by detectives investigating the alleged attack at a Newcastle city centre hotel.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Police received a report of a rape of a woman at a city centre hotel in Newcastle in the early hours.
"Two men, aged 29 and 30, have been arrested on suspicion of rape."
The former Ipswich and Newcastle defender was signed by Sunderland manager Steve Bruce from Wigan for a fee thought to be around £1 million in the summer.
It is believed the alleged rape happened at the plush, four-star Vermont Hotel, which has an entrance close to bars and nightclubs on Newcastle's quayside.
The second man arrested was Bramble's brother, Tesfaye Bramble, police confirmed.
The 30-year-old striker, who has played international football for Montserrat, a British island in the Caribbean, plays for Eastern Counties League Premier Division club Leiston, in Suffolk.
A hotel spokesman refused to comment. Sunderland Football Club has so far not commented.