Police raid top football clubs

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Newcastle United and Portsmouth, of the Premiership, and Glasgow Rangers were the subject of co-ordinated raids by the City of London police.

The homes of two unnamed individuals were also searched.

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Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp (left), Rangers manager Walter Smith and Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce

Newcastle and Portsmouth were two of the clubs named by former police chief Lord Stevens last year in his ongoing investigation into soccer's "bung" culture.

It is examining allegations that managers and officials were bribed to sign certain players.

The City of London police insisted its inquiry was independent of the Stevens report but the two inquiries are thought to share much common ground.

Around 40 plain-clothed officers from the economic crime unit searched offices at the three clubs' stadiums.

Computers were taken away for examination from St James's Park, Newcastle.

The raids follow the arrest last month of a 61-year-old man in Manchester on suspicion of money laundering.

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce and Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp featured in a Panorama investigation into transfers but were not thought to have been connected to the operation.

A police spokesman said the raids were "in connection with corruption in football and its impact on owners and shareholders".

Portsmouth and Rangers issued statements saying they were co-operating fully with the police investigation.

Newcastle United said the club was not the subject of the police inquiry.

A spokesman added: "If investigations show the club has been the victim of any criminal activity, the club will take appropriate action."

Lord Stevens examined more than 300 transfers and expressed concern about 15 agents and third parties involved in 17 transfers to or from Newcastle, Chelsea, Bolton, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth.

One of the transfers was referred directly to the police and details were not published.

Since 2004, eight players have moved between Newcastle and Rangers or Newcastle and Portsmouth. None have moved directly between Rangers and Portsmouth.