Pompey boss Redknapp arrested in Premier League bungs probe

Harry Redknapp was arrested yesterday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting as part of the biggest crackdown on football corruption ever mounted on a single day.

Sixty City of London Police officers made 12 raids on various addresses nationwide and made five arrests that will shock the game to the core.

• Another top manager faces corruption quiz
• Redknapp in the net as police put Faye deal under the spotlight
• What Stevens said: extracts from final Quest report (June 15, 2007)
• Those investigated: Redknapp, McKay, Storrie, Mandaric and Faye

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Arrested: Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp and (pictured from top to bottom) Amdy Faye, Milan Mandaric, Peter Storrie and Willie McKay

Along with Portsmouth boss Redknapp, the others taken in for questioning were Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric, player Amdy Faye, Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie and agent Willie McKay. Police sources suggested that other highprofile arrests were planned.

One of the most successful and popular managers in football, Redknapp, who was fingerprinted and DNA swabbed along with the others, was the only one not collared in predawn raids on three addresses.

He was returning from a scouting trip to Germany and was arrested later in the morning when he arrived back at his luxurious beachside home on Sandbanks, Poole — one of the most prestigious and expensive areas in the UK.

Redknapp, along with Storrie, spent the day at Chichester police station before being released shortly before 8.30pm.

They were driven away in Redknapp's black club Mercedes without commenting.

But their solicitor Paul Martin said: 'What I would like to make clear is they have been assisting the police with inquiries. Those inquiries do not relate to them but to other persons.

"They are ongoing investigations in relation to those individuals and therefore they can't make any comment. There is nothing further they can say. There are constraints upon them."

Redknapp was later said to be in an upbeat mood and ready to the allegations. He will take training today and will be on the bench for Saturday's home game against Everton.

Portsmouth press officer Gary Double added last night: "The matters relate to 2003 when many of the current regime were not involved with the club.

"We fully support Peter and Harry and just want to concentrate on matters on the pitch."

Redknapp has long had a reputation for being a 'colourful' character and there was an extraordinary £16million punted on Betfair when former Portsmouth owner Mandaric persuaded him to leave Southampton and return to the club for a second stint in 2005.

Released: Redknapp and Storrie leave Chichester police station last night

Whatever happens, it is likely to take months before the Crown Prosecution Service decide whether to press charges. But it will effectively rule Redknapp out of the England coach's job.

The police statement issued earlier said: "Five people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting as part of City of London Police's ongoing investigation into football corruption.

"Two searches are still under way and 10 additional searches at a variety of locations across the UK have been concluded."

The operation centred on Portsmouth, where Redknapp is manager and Storrie is chief executive. Mandaric was the club's owner before selling up and buying Leicester City last summer.

Charlton player Faye, currently on loan at Rangers, played for Portsmouth, with McKay negotiating his transfer from Auxerre in 2003 and his exit to Newcastle in January 2005.

The £2m deal that took Faye to St James' Park was one of the 17 transfers not cleared by Lord Stevens' Quest inquiry when he presented his bung report.

The files were passed to the FA, whose compliance department have been co-operating with the City of London Police.

That force's economic crime department launched the investigation, code-named Operation Apprentice, into alleged corruption in the sport more than a year ago.

The multiple arrests follow Tottenham defender Pascal Chimbonda being taken in for questioning on similar conspiracy to defraud and false accounting matters in September.

McKay also played a part in Chimbonda's £4.5m move from Wigan to Tottenham in August last year.

The France right back has been bailed until next year, along with a 61-year-old from Manchester who was arrested on suspicion of money laundering.

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