LONDON: British and French authorities launched a major investigation on Wednesday into a suspected £5 million tax fraud in the football industry, with West Ham United confirmed to have been targeted.
Close to 200 tax officials from the two countries swooped on premises on both sides of the Channel in morning raids, arresting several men and seizing financial records.
Newcastle United, who this week won promotion to the Premier League, are also thought to have been targeted, but have yet to comment.
“HMRC has arrested several men working within the professional football industry for a suspected £5 million ($6.4 million, 5.9 million euros) income tax and National Insurance fraud,” British tax authority HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) said in a statement.
“180 HMRC officers have been deployed across the UK and France today.
“Investigators have searched a number of premises in the northeast and southeast 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.”
English Premier League club West Ham confirmed they were under investigation. British reports said tax officials had searched West Ham’s London Stadium in east London.
The Press Association news agency reported that one of the raids was on Newcastle’s St James’ Park ground, with managing director Lee Charnley among those arrested.
HMRC added: “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.”
