Police raid three clubs in corruption investigation

More than 40 plain-clothed police officers carried out co-ordinated raids on Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Rangers starting early yesterday morning.

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The homes of two individuals, whom police did not name, were also searched. Computers were seized from Newcastle and Portsmouth.

The raids started at St James' Park just after 7.30am and by yesterday lunchtime officers from the City of London Police and Premier League officials had visited Portsmouth's new offices near Fratton Park and Ibrox Stadium.

Earlier this year, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens and his Quest organisation refused to sign off in their independent report for the Premier League on the transfers of Amdy Faye and Jean-Alain Boumsong which involved all three clubs.

Privately, City of London Police admit their inquiry stemmed from the Quest investigation — a fact confirmed last night by sources close to the Stevens Inquiry — although publicly they say the probe is separate.

Lord Stevens' investigation into football's bung culture was quickly followed by the arrest of a 61-year-old man from Manchester on suspicion of money-laundering.

All three clubs issued statements last night saying they were cooperating fully with the investigation, and Newcastle implied they may have been the victim of a crime rather than the perpetrators.

A club spokesman said: "Newcastle United can confirm that it was visited by City of London Police. The club itself is not the subject of the investigation. If the investigation by the City of London Police, or the ongoing internal review of operations by the club's new owners, show that the club has been the victim of any criminal activity, the club will take appropriate action."

Billionaire Mike Ashley took over the club from the Shepherd family last month and quickly started a review of all aspects of Newcastle's business practices.

Police visited Portsmouth's new offices in Rodney Road and stayed for several hours, dfuring which time club spokesman Gary Double also issued a statement.

He said: "We can confirm that the police arrived at about 10am this morning. We have cooperated fully with their search and will not be commenting further."

Rangers, meanwhile, say they will give all the help they can to the anti-corruption investigation.

"Rangers Football Club was asked to co-operate with the police investigation and have done so, extending every cooperation. We have been requested by police not to comment further while the investigation continues," added the Glasgow club.

It was after search warrants were executed that a City of London Police spokeswoman claimed the Quest inquiry was independent of their own probe.

Raid: computers being removed from Portsmouth's offices yesterday

She said: "We can confirm that search warrants were served at three football clubs and the homes of two individuals in connection with corruption in football and its impact on owners and shareholders.

"This investigation is a totally independent inquiry. It has not been influenced or informed by the Quest inquiry in any way. As this is a live investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

In his report, Lord Stevens said there were payments made to agent Willie McKay from the transfer deals involving Faye and Boumsong and despite "a degree of co-operation, the inquiry is still awaiting clarification in relation to various documents provided by him".

McKay, 47, also acted for Auxerre in the transfer of Benjani Mwaruwari and for Portsmouth in Aliou Cisse's move from Birmingham to Fratton Park.

McKay said he was oblivious to the police investigation and the surprise raids. He told Sportsmail: "I know nothing about this. I've been watching the racing all day."

As well as awaiting clarification from McKay, Lord Stevens wants to know more about the role played by Kenny Shepherd, son of Newcastle's former chairman Freddy Shepherd.

He said there were "inconsistencies in evidence" provided by former Newcastle manager Graeme Souness over the transfer of Boumsong for £8million in January 2005.

Like Lord Stevens, and many employees of Newcastle United, Souness later admitted he had no idea of the official role played by Kenny Shepherd, who has never been employed by Newcastle United.

Lord Stevens was first asked by the Premier League to look into the murky world of football transfers after former Luton manager Mike Newell claimed agents had offered him money during transfer dealings.

He examined more than 300 transfers and deemed 17 suspicious, including the moves involving Boumsong and Faye.

One of the 17 was also referred directly to police and details were not included in his report.