Portsmouth Boss Arrested In Corruption Inquiry

Five men have been arrested for questioning in connection with alleged corruption in football including Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp.

Redknapp, along with the club’s chief executive Peter Storrie and former chairman Milan Mandaric, were among the group arrested last night on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting.

Another of those who were held is understood to be Charlton player and Senegalese international Amdy Faye, currently on loan to Rangers.

City of London Police said all five men have been released on bail until February.

The police inquiry is believed to be centred around the transfer of Faye to Portsmouth from the French club Auxerre, a deal set up by agent Willie McKay.

Upon his release, Redknapp commented: ‘We all helped the police with their inquiries, but it doesn’t directly concern me, it’s other people involved.

‘I’ve been answering questions to help the police. I am not directly concerned with their inquiries.

‘They have to arrest you to talk to you, for you to be in the police station. I think that’s the end of it, it didn’t directly concern me.’

Detectives from the economic crime unit of the City of London Police are investigating allegations of corruption within football and its impact on owners and shareholders.

In July, officers raided Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Rangers football clubs as part of the inquiry.

A separate inquiry conducted last year by former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens highlighted concerns over 17 player transfers and five Premier League clubs.