April 26 – Professional football in England and France has been plunged into a tax fraud scandal with a number of arrests following raids linked to alleged transfer activity going back several years.
British tax authorities say 180 officers were deployed in the searches leading to the arrests of “several men working within professional football industry for a suspected income tax and national insurance fraud.”
“The French authorities are assisting the UK investigation, have made arrests and several locations have been searched in France.
“This criminal investigation sends a clear message that, whoever you are, if you commit tax fraud you can expect to face the consequences. As this is an ongoing investigation HMRC is unable to provide any further detail at this time.”
Initial reports claimed two of the English clubs involved were top-flight West Ham United and newly-promoted Newcastle United with Newcastle’s managing director Lee Charnley claimed to be among those to have been arrested.
Tax officials have apparently scooped up details of every transfer deal undertaken by the two clubs during a specific period of time, seizing computers and business documents and confiscating mobile phones.
Reports say they are examining fees paid to players and agents following the transfers in an investigation that is understood to have originated in France.
A West Ham United spokesperson was quoted as saying: “The Club is cooperating fully with HMRC to assist their enquiries. No further comment will be made at this time.”
No further details have been released as to which French clubs are involved but that is sure to change during the day. Arrests have already taken place in France, according to AFP, in what appears to be a co-ordinated strike.
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