|
More Premiership clubs may face a visit from the City of London Police after the questioning of Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan and managing director Karren Brady signalled new developments in the football corruption probe. Previous raids at Birmingham, Portsmouth, Newcastle and SPL club Rangers were linked to transfers of players which fell within the two-year period investigated by Quest for the Premiership, and which involved Scottish agent Willie McKay. Last week's development suggest that the investigation has a wider scope. There has been speculation that police are following up leads generated by two ongoing inquiries in France. In an anonymous letter which is believed to have led to one of those probes, three more Premiership clubs, yet to be questioned, were named as being involved in suspect deals. The anonymous letter sent to French police and football authorities early in 2004 alleged that a number of past and present Premiership players had received, or been promised, tax-free payments. The letter led to the ongoing Marseille-based investigation into Richard Bettoni, an unlicensed agent.
Birmingham City is far from happy about the way their staff have been handled by the police. They insist that Brady and Sullivan were not arrested, but merely kept a long-standing appointment for questioning. However, presumably if they had not turned up for the five hour meeting at Bishopsgate police station, which ended with their release on bail, the police might have felt impelled to arrest them. The club has insisted that the matter being investigated related to tax and national insurance payments. David Sullivan said that he was upset the arrests could be linked with an inquiry into alleged 'bungs' in football. The pair were arrested over allegations of false accounting and conspiracy to defraud. In an earlier statement the club said there was 'absolutely no allegation' that any director of the company or the club itself had benefited financially from any activity. Mr Sullivan said, 'It's a PAYE matter over two foreign players we signed in 2002. I think the "conspiracy to defraud" puts in the mind of supporters an allegation that someone at the club has had money they are not entitled to. There is no allegation of that nature and I wish the police had made that clear.'
Shares in the relegation threatened club were suspended at the club's request last Thursday morning following the arrests and they resumed several hours later. Reports have suggested that a transfer deal in 2004 betwen Birmingham City and Portsmouth is at the centre of this particular inquiry. The Senegal midfielder, Alou Cisse, moved from Birmingham to Portsmouth for £300,000 in August 2004. It has been claimed that Brady and Sullivan were questioned about the period after Cisse's initial move to England, when he signed for Birmingham from Montpellier for £1.5m in July 2002.
Premiership supremo Richard Scudamore has insisted that these events have not damaged the top league's image. It is certainly the case that rumours, claims and investigations about alleged corruption involving some Premiership clubs have not led to any charges or convictions. However, these matters are necessarily complex and it it may be that someone will eventually be charged, although not necessarily those who have been questioned. Alongside fans' complaints about 'greedy' players, the reputation of the Premiership could sustain damage and these days brand reputation is seen as a golden asset.
|
