Arrested: Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp and
(pictured from top to bottom) Amdy Faye, Milan Mandaric, Peter
Storrie and Willie McKay
The arrests come after the arrest in September of Tottenham
defender Pascal Chimbonda. The 28-year-old French international
moved to Spurs in a £4.5m transfer from Wigan in August of last
year and was the first player to be held in the City of London
police inquiry.
Today police refused to give details of the identity of those held,
beyond giving their ages as 69, 60, 55, 48 and 30. A police
spokeswoman said: We can confirm that they have been arrested on
suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting.
The arrests are part of the City of London police's investigation
into football corruption. The City police's economic crime
department launched the investigation, code-named Operation
Apprentice, into alleged corruption in the sport more than a year
ago.
Two people have been held so far. As well as Chimbonda, who was
arrested on suspicion of fraud, a 61-year old man has been held on
suspicion of money laundering. Both men are on police bail pending
further inquiries. The investigation centres on alleged tax fraud
and money laundering which is believed to include claims of
individuals taking back-handers in relation to transfers. Since the
inquiry was launched, detectives have raided Newcastle, Portsmouth
and Glasgow Rangers.
Chimbonda's transfer was negotiated by McKay, who represents a
number of top foreign players. A former bookie, McKay, has denied
that he is being investigated by police and has said: I think you
will probably find when it all comes out, it will be
nothing.
