Van Persie held on rape suspicion

Arsenal's Dutch striker Robin van Persie has been arrested in Rotterdam on suspicion of rape, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Van Persie, 21, was arrested on Monday and can be held for a maximum of three days without a formal charge.

The incident allegedly happened over the weekend.

Van Persie, born in Rotterdam, was in the Dutch national squad for World Cup qualifiers against Romania and Finland this month. He joined Arsenal last year from Feyenoord.