CPS considering charges over football ‘bribery’
Prosecutors are considering whether to charge anyone over alleged bribery in football after a year-long inquiry. The announcement by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) follows an investigation by The Daily Telegraph last year which revealed corruption and greed in English football.
PROSECUTORS are considering whether to charge anyone over alleged bribery in football after a year-long criminal inquiry.
The announcement by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) follows an investigation by The Daily Telegraph last year which revealed greed and corruption in English football.
A spokesman from the City of London police said they were awaiting charging decisions.
The police inquiry is thought to have focused on Tommy Wright, who was sacked as assistant manager of Barnsley after allegedly accepting a £5,000 cash “bribe” in a meeting with undercover reporters posing as representatives of a fictitious Far East company. Wright has denied any wrongdoing.
Detectives from the City of London economic crime directorate began a criminal investigation last November into a “single suspected offence of bribery”, after concluding their review of material gathered by this newspaper. However, it is understood the inquiry was expanded to cover two agents, believed to be Pino Pagliara and Dax Price.
Sam Allardyce lost his job as England manager after he was secretly filmed agreeing to be paid by a fake company to travel to the Far East for speaking engagements. Police wrote to Allardyce shortly afterwards informing him he was no longer part of the investigation.
The Telegraph did not suggest Allardyce had broken the law, and he denied any wrongdoing.
The FA may launch its own investigation into wrongdoing but will not do so until police are able to pass over the relevant files.
A spokesperson for the CPS told Sky Sports News: “I can confirm the CPS received a full file of evidence in October 2017 and this is currently being considered by specialist lawyers, who will make a charging decision in due course.”