Andy Carroll in alleged Dublin assault

The 23-year-old striker, who is on loan from Liverpool to West Ham, was accused of attacking a photographer outside a restaurant in Dublin.

In a statement, Gardai said an incident took place in the Grafton Street area of the city at around 2.30am on Monday.

It continued: "Gardai in Pearse Street are investigating an alleged minor assault that occurred on Grafton Street at 2.30am on 3 December."

Police said no arrests were made.

It is understood Carroll was in Dublin with team-mates for a weekend Christmas party.

A spokesperson for West Ham insisted that there had been no physical contact between the player and photographer.

"Andy Carroll was in Dublin as part of a social trip with full permission of the management team," the club said.

"Andy agreed to have a number of pictures taken at the request of a photographer who was waiting on the street. Despite this, the photographer then carried on taking photos in the close proximity of Andy and was politely asked to stop by the private security team working on the trip.

"When he then continued taking more photos he was restrained by the security team for Andy's safety. Eyewitnesses state at no point was there any physical contact between Andy and the photographer."

West Ham confirmed that gardai took a number of statements from the group at the hotel.