Police Raid Three Football Clubs

[mrbojangles]

Police raid three football clubs from the BBC:-

Police have raided three football clubs as part of an investigation into alleged corruption.

Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Rangers are believed to be the three clubs involved.

The operation is not connected to Lord Stevens's ongoing Quest inquiry into the Premiership and was "totally independent", police said.

Search warrants were executed on the club premises and two homes between 0730 and 0900 BST.

A City of London Police spokesman said: "We can confirm that search warrants were served at three football clubs and the homes of two individuals in connection with corruption in football and its impact on owners and shareholders."

A Northumbria Police spokesman said they were aware that "an operation" had been carried out by their London colleagues at St James' Park, the home of Newcastle United.

A spokesman for Rangers said: "Rangers football club was asked to co-operate with a police investigation and have done so, extending every co-operation to police.

"We have been requested by police not to comment further while the investigation is on-going."

Strathclyde Police confirmed that its officers had executed a search warrant on behalf of City of London police.

Portsmouth also released a statement on Monday which said: "We can confirm police arrived around 10am today.

"We have co-operated fully with their search and will not be commenting further."

Detectives from the economic crime unit at City of London Police are investigating allegations of corruption within football.

Last month, they arrested a 61-year-old man in Manchester on suspicion of money laundering

[tw25rw]

Someone tell Kevin McCabe there's an opportunity for a points deduction..

[Jockstar]

Updated: July 16, 2007 From Soccernet

Three clubs raided in corruption investigation

Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers were raided by the Police on Monday as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in football.

Police said the raids were not connected to Lord Stevens' ongoing Quest inquiry into the Premier League and were 'totally independent'.

City of London Police would not disclose which clubs were involved, or their league status, but said search warrants were executed between 7.30am and 9am today.

A spokeswoman said: 'We can confirm that search warrants were served at three football clubs and the homes of two individuals in connection with corruption in football and its impact on owners and shareholders.

'This investigation is a totally independent inquiry.

'It has not been influenced or informed by the Quest inquiry in any way.

'As this is a live investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.'

Northumbria Police said all inquiries about today's football corruption raids were being handled by City of London Police.

But a spokesman for the North East force said they were aware that 'an operation' had been carried out earlier today by their London colleagues at St James' Park, the home of Newcastle United.

Rangers confirmed they had been approached by police.

A club spokesman said: 'Rangers Football Club was asked to co-operate with the police investigation and have done so, extending every co-operation.

'We have been requested by police not to comment further while the investigation continues.'

Gary Double, director of communications at Portsmouth Football Club, confirmed his club was involved in the investigation.

He said: 'We can confirm that the police arrived at about 10am this morning.

'We have co-operated fully with their search and will not be commenting further.'

Newcastle plc issued a statement which read: 'Newcastle United can confirm that it was visited this morning by the City of London Police.

'The club itself is not the subject of the investigation.

'If the investigation by the City of London Police, or the ongoing internal review of operations by the Club's new owners, show that the club has been the victim of any criminal activity, the club will take appropriate action.'

More to follow...

[soihok]

Good grief,,what have these clubs been up to ? To be actually raided by the police aint the same as ,,"would you mind answering a few questions please sir?".

[EastSaxCol]

Even if they'd been eating babies, the media would still be hounding West Ham as a priority.

[madog]

Good grief,,what have these clubs been up to ? To be actually raided by the police aint the same as ,,"would you mind answering a few questions please sir?".

i corruption fc oh the dignity of the scottish giants :D

the police dont just get warrants on a whim

dodgy dave knew

murrays moonbeams loyal

[mrbojangles]

Update:- From the BBc

Five arrested in football inquiry

Five men have been arrested in connection with alleged corruption in football, police have said.

Those held included Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, the club's chief executive Peter Storrie and its former chairman Milan Mandaric.

The five men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting.

Mr Redknapp and three others have since been released on police bail. A 30-year-old remains in custody.

He is understood to be Charlton player and Senegalese international Amdy Faye, currently on loan to Rangers.

The City of London Police inquiry is believed to be centred around the transfer of Mr Faye to Portsmouth, a deal set up by agent Willie McKay.

Police refused to give details of those arrested and would only confirm they were aged 69, 60, 55, 48 and 30.

On his release Mr Redknapp said: "We all helped the police with their inquiries, but it doesn't directly concern me, it's other people involved.

"I've been answering questions to help the police. I am not directly concerned with their inquiries.

"They have to arrest you to talk to you, for you to be in the police station. I think that's the end of it, it didn't directly concern me."

The solicitor representing Mr Redknapp and Mr Storrie emphasised that his clients were cooperating with police.

Speaking outside the police station Paul Martin said: "The inquiries do not relate to either of those individuals, they relate to entirely different individuals.

"They are ongoing investigations in relation to those other individuals, and for that reason they are unable to comment further, and there is nothing that they can discuss."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Mr Mandaric confirmed that the Leicester City chairman was asked to assist police enquiries.

He said: "While the investigation remains on-going Mr Mandaric will continue to offer his full and total support to the police."

The arrests are part of City of London Police's on-going inquiry into alleged corruption, a spokesman said.

The men were held as officers carried out raids on 12 locations across the country. Two of those searches are still ongoing.

Detectives from the economic crime unit of the City of London Police are investigating allegations of corruption within football and its impact on owners and shareholders.

In July, officers raided Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Rangers football clubs as part of the inquiry.

A spokesman for Portsmouth said on Wednesday that the club's chief executive and manager had "been asked to help police with their inquiries concerning a matter dating back to 2003".

"This was prior to the new owner taking control of the club at the beginning of 2006," he said.

"The club is fully supportive of Peter and Harry who are co-operating fully with City of London Police in this ongoing inquiry.

"Both are playing major roles in the continued success of Portsmouth Football Club."

Seven arrests

Rangers FC have confirmed that a player was arrested in a matter "totally unrelated" to the club.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further," Rangers said in a statement.

Last year, the Premier League asked former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens and his company, Quest, to carry out a separate inquiry into several hundred player transfer deals.

In June, Lord Stevens presented his final report, which highlighted concerns over 17 transfers and five Premier League clubs.

City of London Police have distanced their investigation from Lord Stevens' inquiry.

The latest arrests bring the total number of people detained in connection with the investigation to seven.

In September, a 28-year-old man was arrested in London and in May, a 61-year-old man was arrested in Manchester on suspicion of money laundering.

[mrtoad]

Think that this put the nail in any hopes that Harry had of getting the England job.

I am assuming that this is all to do with the usual brown envelopes and such like. To be fair though, police raids is a bit over the top, but obviously the Plod like a bitof publicity, other than hounding motorists most of the time.

[chavy]

Harry said the questions were about "other people" & nothing to do with him.......thanks for that Harry, I was wondering why plod arrive at your door at the crack of dawn to arrest you & take away your computer etc !! I think I'm more worried now what they'd do if they suspected you of doing something

[mrtoad]

Harry said the questions were about "other people" & nothing to do with him.......thanks for that Harry, I was wondering why plod arrive at your door at the crack of dawn to arrest you & take away your computer etc !! I think I'm more worried now what they'd do if they suspected you of doing something

At least he has an excuse for not getting the England job now, not that he was every going to get it anyway.