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Redknapp denies corruption link | Redknapp denies corruption link |
(10 minutes later) | |
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has said a police inquiry into alleged corruption in football "doesn't directly concern me". | Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has said a police inquiry into alleged corruption in football "doesn't directly concern me". |
He was one of a group of five men arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. | He was one of a group of five men arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. |
City of London Police have said all five men have been released on bail until February. | City of London Police have said all five men have been released on bail until February. |
Among those arrested were Portsmouth's chief executive Peter Storrie and the club's former chairman Milan Mandaric. | Among those arrested were Portsmouth's chief executive Peter Storrie and the club's former chairman Milan Mandaric. |
Another of those who were held 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 from the French club Auxerre, a deal set up by agent Willie McKay. | |
Inquiries help | |
Mr Redknapp said: "We all helped the police with their inquiries, but it doesn't directly concern me, it's other people involved. | 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. | "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." | |
Paul Martin, the solicitor representing Mr Redknapp and Mr Storrie, said: "The inquiries do not relate to either of those individuals. They relate to entirely different individuals." | |
A spokesman for Mr Mandaric said the Leicester City chairman would "continue to offer his full and total support to the police". | |
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. |
The 69-year-old was also held on suspicion of money laundering, a police spokesman said. | The 69-year-old was also held on suspicion of money laundering, a police spokesman said. |
The men were held as officers carried out raids on 12 locations across the country. | The men were held as officers carried out raids on 12 locations across the country. |
Previous arrests | |
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. |
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" prior to the new owner taking control of the club in 2006. | 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" prior to the new owner taking control of the club in 2006. |
He added that the club was "fully supportive of Peter and Harry". | |
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. |
An inquiry conducted last year by former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens highlighted concerns over 17 player transfers and five Premier League clubs. | |
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. |