THE parents of the 17-year-old girl who claims she was gang raped by premiership football stars last night vowed: "We want justice."

The family came forward as football authorities and broadcasters faced up to the nightmare prospect of the names of players at the centre of the allegations being chanted by fans on the terraces this weekend.

Television and radio broadcasters could inadvertently open themselves up to legal problems if the words are picked up on microphones.

Several names have already been widely circulated on fan-based websites this week.

However, newspapers, radio and television broadcasters are prevented for naming the players for legal reasons.

Aston Villa last night became the first club to explicitly deny that any of its players had been involved.

The Birmingham team was one of six Premiership clubs playing in London last weekend when the 17-year-old alleges she was attacked.

A Villa spokesman said: "We can categorically confirm that neither Aston Villa nor any of its players are being investigated in relation to the alleged incident in London at the weekend."

The girl at the centre of the scandal was understood to be meeting lawyers yesterday who will explain to her the potential legal ramifications of her allegations.

The family have also contacted public relations consultant Max Clifford for advice. He said last night that he had spoken to the girl once and her father several times. The girl sounded "vulnerable" and was "very upset, very emotional and very frightened".

Mr Clifford said: "Both her and her father and mother want justice.

"That's what matters most to them. They are obviously very hurt and very upset.

"Her father is very angry and concerned for his daughter, the same as any father would be in those circumstances, and he wants to protect her."

He added: "This is about getting justice for her and getting her protection."

The girl told police she agreed to have sex with one Premiership star and was then attacked by up to seven others in Room 316 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London's Park Lane on Saturday, September 27.

The players alleged to have been involved are from more than one Premiership club.

Newspapers are unable to print their names for legal reasons but rumours about their identities have flooded the Internet and circulated among fans across the country.

Bosses of the only sports website based in the North-East last night reported a "major increase" in people logging on to see if they could find out who the footballers are.

Dave Picken, director of www.sportnetwork.net, the fastest growing site of its kind in the country, said it was taking measures to try to stop people posting speculation on the sites.

Mr Picken said: "We have to be very, very careful because lawyers acting for these footballers - and we don't know who they are - are well aware of these websites and are very litigious.

"We get more than 30,000 hits a day and it is a big task but we have managed to keep the message boards going by being extra vigilant."

Commander John Yates, in overall charge of the police case, said last night: "We have a list of all those staying or working in the hotel during the relevant time period.

"My officers are currently taking steps to contact those people.

"I would emphasise that this investigation is still at an early stage," he said.

Three Premiership games were played in London last weekend - Arsenal v Newcastle on Friday, Chelsea v Aston Villa on Saturday, and Charlton v Liverpool on Sunday.