The players of leading Peruvian side Cienciano were held up and robbed by armed men as they were collecting their wages, a police official said Thursday.

The victims, who were forced to lie on the floor during the raid, included Peru internationals Juan Carlos Bazalar and forward William Chiroque. The robbers were reported to have made off with $85,000 in cash as well as the players' wallets and mobile phones.

'At the moment that the players were receiving their wages, four men entered and surrounded the cashier,' said Cusco police official Juan Auccahuaqui.

'It seems that the criminals were from Lima,' he said.

'They were well-dressed, it seems the operation had been planned. The place does not have security, anyone can come and go as they please.'

Police said the raid lasted five minutes before the criminals sped off in a blue car.