Footballer arrested over assault

Pienaar joined Everton on a permanent basis in April

A Premier League footballer has been arrested over an alleged assault on a woman in Liverpool.

Police were called early on Sunday morning after reports a woman had been assaulted in a flat near Sefton Park.

South African international and Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar went to a police station voluntarily later that morning and was arrested.

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said a 26-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assault.

Broken toe

She said: "The man has been released on police bail pending further enquiries."

Pienaar was part of the South African squad in the 2002 World Cup and played for his country at the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana.

In April his move to Everton was made permanent after he played for the club while on loan from Borussia Dortmund.

He is currently on a three-year deal until the summer of 2011, but is out of action while recovering from a broken toe.