Three professional Argentine footballers implicated in the alleged rape of a sports journalist in a hotel room earlier this month were placed under house arrest on Thursday, as ordered by a judge overseeing the case. The players, associated with premier division club Velez Sarsfield, are under investigation in connection with the incident, while a fourth player was released on bail.

The judge's decision mandates 90 days of house arrest for the three players, while the fourth player, granted bail, faces restrictions including a prohibition on leaving the country for 90 days. The accused have been suspended from their team, Velez Sarsfield, which occupies a prominent position in Argentina's top league.

The allegations stem from an incident on March 3, when a 24-year-old sports journalist reported being raped after accompanying Uruguay international Sebastian Sosa to a hotel room in Tucuman, Argentina. The journalist stated that the other three defendants were present in the room and that she felt incapacitated after consuming alcohol, leading to the assault.

Prosecutor Eugenia Posse is pursuing rape charges against players Braian Cufre and Jose Florentin, with Abiel Osorio facing accusations of sexual abuse. Sebastian Sosa, identified as a secondary participant, has been granted bail but is subject to restrictions.

The prosecution sought pre-trial detention for all four defendants to safeguard the integrity of the investigation. If convicted, the players could face prison sentences ranging from four to 20 years.

In response to the allegations, Velez Sarsfield football club issued a statement expressing deep concern and announcing the suspension of the implicated players pending an internal investigation.

The developments in Argentina coincide with legal proceedings involving former footballers in other countries. In Spain, former Brazil international Dani Alves was released on bail while appealing his conviction for rape, while in Brazil, former Manchester City and Real Madrid player Robinho is seeking a delay in serving his sentence for involvement in a gang rape case.