Sunderland AFC have confirmed that the four players allegedly involved in public order incidents in the last week have been suspended from club duty.
A full internal investigation is underway and the players involved – Chris Brown, Ryan Bell, Sean Taylor and Niall Flynn – will not be permitted to represent the club while the enquiry takes place.
Brown, 19, and Bell and Taylor, both 18, were cautioned by Northumbria Police on Monday following reports of three men firing pellets out of a car.
No one was injured in the incident when police reportedly seized a ball-bearing gun – adapted to fire paintball pellets. The trio have all accepted cautions for public order offences.
In a separate incident, on Saturday night, youth team player Flynn, 18, was arrested and bailed for a similar incident.
A club spokesperson today said: “Sunderland Football Club is taking the allegations very seriously and does not condone any form of anti-social behaviour. The club can confirm that it has already commenced a thorough investigation into the alleged incidents.
“The players involved have been informed that, for the duration of this investigation, that they will be made unavailable for selection for any fixtures and have been suspended from normal duties until the investigation, which may result in disciplinary action, has been concluded.”
Brown has appeared on the bench for Mick McCarthy’s side this season after a successful loan spell at Doncaster last year. Bell, Taylor and Flynn are all members of Sunderland’s under-18 side and have played for the reserves this season
