HMRC investigate '£5m fraud'

  • by Staff Writer
  • Wednesday, 26th April 2017

HMRC have confirmed that raids at West Ham and Newcastle were in connection with a '£5million fraud'.

The investigation is said to centre on the transfers of players between the UK and France and involves the distribution of payments for image rights, agent payments and other contractual obligations, since 2010.


Officers prepare to enter the stadium shortly after 8am this morning [Image ©@YuiMok]


The Olympic Stadium was raided early this morning, the same time as investigators executed a similar operation at Newcastle's St James' Park and their Darsley Park training ground.

So far there have been several arrests made in both France and England with vital information stored on computers also said to have been seized.

Last year HMRC confirmed that they were investigating a dozen clubs in relation to the transfers of 43 players. Eight agents were also said to be involved.



Another shot from this morning's raid [Image ©@YuiMok]


West Ham's French Connection

Dimitri Payet: Purchased from Marseille in 2015, sold back to L'OM in 2016.

Morgan Amalfitano: Purchased from Marseille for £800,000 in 2014.

Diafra Sakho: A £4million signing from Metz in August 2014.

Alou Diarra: Arrived on a free trasnfer from Marseille in August 2012.

Modibo Maiga: Signed from FC Sochaux in 2012. Sold to Al Nassr in 2015.

Freddie Piquionne: Arrived from Lyon in 2010. Joined Doncaster three years later.




Additionally, West Ham have signed several French-born players in the last seven years; Mo Diame (2012-2014), Marouane Chamakh (2013, on loan), Guy Demel (2013-2015), Sofiane Feghouli (2016-), Arthur Masuaku (2016-) and Andre Ayew (2016-) have all featured for West Ham since 2010.



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