BEIJING, Dec. 20 -- Manchester United defender Jonny Evans was being questioned by police yesterday in connection with an alleged rape of a woman at the club's Christmas party.

    The 19-year-old Northern Ireland international was arrested on Tuesday evening after turning himself into police. The Sun and Britain's Press Association identified Evans as the man under arrest.

    A 26-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted early on Tuesday at the Great John Street Hotel in downtown Manchester. United players booked the entire hotel for a party on Monday night.

    The United squad, on a high after Sunday's 1-0 Premier League win at rival Liverpool, started the festivities in the private room of a popular downtown casino.

    The 35-strong group, including England stars Wayne Rooney, Owen Hargreaves, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville, was entertained by dancers while having a traditional turkey lunch.

    The all-day party, organized by Ferdinand, moved in the evening to the luxurious boutique hotel where champagne, vodka and beer flowed into the early hours. The players' wives and girlfriends were not invited, while a bevy of young women from across the country were, news reports said.

    "There was no shortage of attractive female company on the night," wrote Sarah Tetteh, a reporter from the Daily Mirror, who claimed to be at the party. "And as one of those guests I watched in amazement as Old Trafford's finest proved themselves to be the Premier-ship's leading party animals."

    Evans was among the United players photographed leaving the club's Christmas lunch on Monday. He is not a regular in Alex Ferguson's first team, but was handed a Champions League start last week at AS Roma with progression to the next round already secured.

    Evans returned to the Premier League champion in the summer after loan spells at Sunderland and Antwerp in Belgium.

    Evans played for Northern Ireland in the 1-0 loss at Latvia in August in a European Championship qualifier.

    The players belted out soccer chants and jumped on chairs into the early hours of Tuesday morning until the 26-year-old women's rape claim brought the party to an abrupt halt.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily/ Agencies)