Arrests as Newcastle and West Ham raided in £5m tax probe

BBC Sports

Newcastle United and West Ham United's grounds have been raided in a fraud investigation.

It is understood Newcastle's managing director Lee Charnley was among "several men within professional football" who were arrested. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said it had deployed 180 officers across the UK and France.

The BBC understands the suspected income tax and National Insurance fraud amounts to £5m. HMRC said it searched premises in the north east and south east of England, and seized business records, financial records, computers and mobile phones.

Football's tense history with HMRC

West Ham's London Olympic Stadium and Newcastle's St James' Park were among the locations raided. HMRC officers also visited offices belonging to Chelsea FC "in connection with its wider investigation", a club spokesman confirmed.

But it is understood the club's premises were not raided and no arrests were made. "HMRC has requested certain information which the club will provide," the spokesman said. Sources told the BBC the Magpies' managing director Mr Charnley, 39, was earlier taken away from St James' Park by officers.

He became the club's managing director three years ago, and has reportedly been credited with persuading manager Rafa Benitez to stay at the club.

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Image captionLee Charnley (pictured right alongside Newcastle owner Mike Ashley) was among those arrested, it is understood

BBC Sports editor Dan Roan has tweeted that West Ham United was one of the clubs involved. In a statement, West Ham United said it was "co-operating fully with HMRC to assist their inquiries."

HMRC said it had arrested "several men working within the professional football industry for a suspected income tax and national insurance fraud". "180 HMRC officers have been deployed across the UK and France today," the statement added.

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Image captionWest Ham played their first game at the London Stadium in August

"Investigators have searched a number of premises in the north east and south east of England and arrested the men and also seized business records, financial records, computers and mobile phones. "The French authorities are assisting the UK investigation, have made arrests and several locations have been searched in France. "As this is an ongoing investigation, HMRC is unable to provide any further detail at this time."

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Image captionNewcastle United was one of the clubs raided

Newcastle were promoted to the Premier League on Monday, just 348 days after relegation.

According to its 2014/15 accounts, the club had a turnover of £128m, paid out £78m in players' wages and recorded a profit of £36m HMRC raided West Ham's offices at the London Olympic Stadium where the club moved in August, having played at Upton Park since 1904.

Companies House figures for 2014/15 show it turned over £120m, paid out £72m in player's wages and made a profit of almost £3m. In January, a Parliamentary Committee revealed 43 players, 12 clubs and eight agents were the subject of "open inquiries" by HMRC. The Public Accounts Committee highlighted particular concerns about tax evasion in the football industry and the "misuse" of image rights to reduce tax liabilities.