Two days after Newcastle United were promoted to the Premier League, officials of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) raided the offices of the club on Wednesday as part of their tax investigation into football transfers. The officials have arrested Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley, among others.
Newcastle players were stunned when police entered their training ground to raid the facility and also arrest officials. Soon, staff members and players were sent home from the St James Park. Charnley is the club’s former secretary who was promoted to the role of managing director under owner Mike Ashley in 2014.
Even West Ham United’s offices were raided along with its training facility on Wednesday. West Ham has been asked for documents relating to the case and are cooperating with the investigation.
A statement issued by the HMRC stated: “HMRC has arrested several men working within the professional football industry for a suspected Income Tax and 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.”
Recently, it was revealed that Newcastle United spent 10 million pounds in agents’ fees for the 2016/17 season, almost twice the figure paid out by their closest rivals, Aston Villa.