Daily WHUFC News - London Stadium Raids

Newcastle and West Ham raided by HMRC after investigation into clubs' transfer dealings
Former Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley has been arrested as part of the probe
Ed Malyon Sports Editor
The Independent

Newcastle United and West Ham have been raided by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs after an investigation into the clubs' transfer dealings. Both St. James' Park and the London Stadium were the subject of warrants, and Newcastle's managing director, Lee Charnley, has been arrested. Charnley has been a key cog in Mike Ashley's regime on Tyneside, running the club and being largely responsible for first-team recruitment. The 39-year-old doled out a net spend of some £70million in 2016.

Speaking of the club's recruitment strategy last month, he said: "Our approach, following relegation, was to make further sizeable investment in our playing squad in preparation for the EFL Championship season ahead and our annual wage bill is, we believe, still above and beyond many current Premier League teams. "Whilst not without financial risks, this strategy was adopted in order to maximise our chances of promotion at the first time of asking."

It is a stunning blow for the Magpies, who were flying high after securing their return to the Premier League on Monday night with a win over Preston. HMRC say they have arrested "several men working within professional football industry for suspected income tax & national insurance fraud." "180 HMRC officers have been deployed across the UK and France today. 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.
"This criminal investigation sends a clear message that, whoever you are, if you commit tax fraud you can expect to face the consequences. As this is an ongoing investigation HMRC is unable to provide any further detail at this time."

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Newcastle and West Ham raided in HMRC probe
BBc.co.uk

Newcastle United and West Ham's grounds have been raided in a fraud investigation. HMRC said it deployed 180 officers across the UK and France, resulting in the arrests of several men working within professional football. It said investigators had searched a number of premises in the north east and south east of England. A spokesman added it had also seized business records, financial records, computers and mobile phones. The arrests were connected to a suspected income tax and National Insurance fraud, he added. BBC Sports editor Dan Roan has tweeted that West Ham United was one of the clubs involved. Newcastle United's St. James' Park ground has also been searched.

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West Ham United and Newcastle's offices raided by tax officials
JONATHAN MITCHELL
Evening Standard

The offices of West Ham United and Newcastle United were raided this morning by officials investigating suspected income tax and national insurance fraud. Newcastle's managing director Lee Charnley was arrested in connection with the raids, it is understood.
Investigators have siezed a number business records, financial records, computers and mobile phones from the two clubs and "several" arrests have been made. Raids took place at Newcastle United's St. James' Park stadium and training ground Darlsey Park.

Dan Roan ✔ @danroan
I'm told around 50 HMRC officers raided West Ham's offices at the London Olympic stadium at 8am today. Club has had to hand over documents
9:52 AM - 26 Apr 2017
200 200 Retweets 125 125 likes

A spokesman for HMRC said: "HMRC has arrested several men working within the professional football industry for a suspected Income Tax and National Insurance fraud. "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. "This criminal investigation sends a clear message that, whoever you are, if you commit tax fraud you can expect to face the consequences."

The raids come after Newcastle United secured promotion to the Premier League at the weekend following a 4-1 win over Preston.

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