BBC News has issued an apology after mistakenly showing an image of Raheem Sterling during a rape arrest report about another Premier League player.

The broadcasting company said: "In our sports bulletin earlier, owing to a technical errorthe wrong picture appeared in connection with a story of a Premier League player arrested over alleged sexual offences.

"A picture of a different and wholly unconnected player was shown. We apologise for that mistake."

The image of Raheem was reportedly used previously in a report about his transfer from Manchester City to Chelsea.Taking to Twitter, many viewers revealed that they were taken aback by BBC News' mistake.One person wrote:

"Did anyone else just see the BBC News mention a footballer and rape allegations, with a picture of Raheem Sterling, that was suddenly removed and the presenter try to change the subject?! What's going on?"A second tweeted:

"Is Raheem Sterling the footballer facing rape allegations if not why put up his picture? You've definitely planted in our minds that the unnamed player is Black. "You don't know the team or player but you name & use Raheem's image? What????@BBCNews."Another said: "Wait hold on, did @bbcnewsjust put up a picture of Raheem Sterling @sterling7 during a report about a footballer charged with rape? What was that!??? "Since when was he accused of rape? Did they reach for a picture of ANY black footballer? #bbcnews."