UK, France launch major tax fraud probe

LONDON: British and French authorities launched a major investigation into a suspected £5mil (RM28mil) tax fraud in the football industry, with West Ham 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, who this week won promotion to the English Premier League, are also thought to have been targeted but have yet to comment.

“HMRC have arrested several men working within the professional football industry for a suspected £5mil 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.”

West Ham confirmed they were under investigation. British reports said tax officials had searched their London Stadium.

The Press Association news agency reported that one of the raids was on Newcastle’s St James’ Park ground in northeast England, with managing director Lee Charnley among those arrested.

West Ham said they were “cooperating fully with HMRC to assist their enquiries”.

Newcastle are yet to comment, but were thought to be preparing a statement. — AFP