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Redknapp bailed after questioning | Redknapp bailed after questioning |
(about 8 hours 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. |
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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | 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' | '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." | "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. | 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." | 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 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. | 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 | 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 | 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. |