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| Redknapp held in football inquiry | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Five men have been arrested in connection with alleged corruption in football, police have said. | Five men have been arrested in connection with alleged corruption in football, police have said. |
| The arrests included Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp and the club's chief executive, Peter Storrie. | The arrests included Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp and the club's chief executive, Peter Storrie. |
| The five men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. | The five men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. |
| Mr Redknapp and two others have since been released on police bail. Police said a 48-year-old and 30-year-old are still in custody. | |
| Police refused to give details of those arrested and would only confirm they were aged 69, 60, 55, 48 and 30. | Police refused to give details of those arrested and would only confirm they were aged 69, 60, 55, 48 and 30. |
| On-going inquiry | On-going inquiry |
| 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. | |
| He added: "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." | "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. | |
| 'Corruption' | |
| "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." | |
| The arrests are part of City of London Police's on-going inquiry into alleged corruption, a spokesman said. | The arrests are part of City of London Police's on-going inquiry into alleged corruption, a spokesman said. |
| The BBC understands another of those arrested to be Scottish football agent Willie McKay. | The BBC understands another of those arrested to be Scottish football agent Willie McKay. |
| The men were held as officers carried out raids on 12 locations across the country. Two of those searches are still ongoing. | 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. | 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. |
| The club is fully supportive of Peter and Harry who are co-operating fully with City of London Police in this ongoing inquiry Portsmouth FC | |
| In July, officers raided Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Rangers football clubs as part of the inquiry. | 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". | 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. | "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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |