ROWDY Blackburn Rovers players were today accused of behaving like hooligans after they were booted out of a VIP box at Cheltenham races during an alleged booze spree.

The corporate entertainment manager who provided the private box tickets to the group has threatened to sue for damages, claiming the incident will affect his business.

And the managing director of the course blasted the stars' decision to turn up "unsuitably" dressed and claimed that this "started the rot," although he insisted they had not been banned and he had made no official complaint to the club.

Police and security staff were called to a private box at the Gloucestershire course on Wednesday afternoon after complaints about the Ewood Park stars' behaviour.

None of the Rovers party was arrested.

The players travelled down to Cheltenham after Rovers' 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest at Ewood Park on Tuesday night.

John Llewellyn, of Corporation Innovations, today claimed that the players were drinking heavily, breaking glasses and vomiting in the VIP suite. Cheltenham racecourse managing director Edward Gillespie confirmed that a group of around eight people in the Rovers party had arrived at the course after making a late booking for a table through an agent.

But their behaviour drew complaints from guests in the room and they were asked to leave the VIP box, although they remained on the course.

"It is very sad. They came dressed unsuitably for a corporate area. They could have made considerably more effort in the way they were turned out and that was the start of the rot."

Insp Dean Walker of Gloucestershire Police said today: "Police and security staff were called to a private box at Cheltenham racecourse to remove a number of high-spirited people."

Rovers manager Tony Parkes said: "There was an incident in the VIP lounge and the players were asked to leave which they did.

"They watched the rest of the racing from outside.

"If it had been more serious they would have been asked to leave the course which they weren't.

"That is the end of the matter as far as we are concerned, we have a game to get on with tomorrow."

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