Post by QPR Report on Feb 18, 2009 22:52:20 GMT
The Times
Harry Redknapp to be quizzed again over transfers
(PA/Joe Giddens)
Redknapp faces further questioning from Revenue & Customs
Sean O’Neill, Crime Editor, Gary Jacob, Donetsk, Ukraine
Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, is likely to face further questioning in the long-running investigation into football transfers. He is expected to be interviewed by investigators from Revenue & Customs who have taken the lead in the inquiry from City of London Police. Sources told The Times that the focus of the inquiry has shifted from allegations of fraud and money laundering to “possible tax-related offences”.
One said: “The serious criminal investigation has run into the sand, it’s now going down the Al Capone route.” The Crown Prosecution Service, after studying the evidence gathered by police for six months, is not prepared to bring charges against Redknapp or other football figures who have been questioned by police.
Files on the investigation have been passed to the Revenue & Customs Prosecuting Office. Since the handover, investigators have rearrested Karren Brady, the Birmingham City managing director, and Peter Storrie, the Portsmouth executive chairman.
Seven figures from the game have been arrested during Operation Apprentice, which has been running since April 2007 at an estimated cost of £250,000. Redknapp was detained after a dawn raid on his home in 2007 and released on police bail.
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In the shorter term, Redknapp has other problems to contend with as he faces six matches in 17 days. Concerned by their league position and the fear of injuries, Redknapp has left behind seven senior players for the match against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Uefa Cup round of 32, first leg in Ukraine this evening.
Wilson Palacios could be the most significant absentee, having added bite to the midfield since he joined last month from Wigan Athletic.
Ledley King has his long-term knee complaint but Carlo Cudicini, Jonathan Woodgate, Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric have minor niggles, and Gareth Bale has a virus. Vedran Corluka, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko are ineligible.
Tottenham play Hull City on Monday in the Barclays Premier League and Shakhtar again three days later. “It is a juggling act and I need to keep them sharp,” Redknapp said. “We are in a relegation battle and the fixture list is crazy. If we were sitting in the top half we’d be putting everything into getting this result.
“We will find out whether the kids [in the squad] are as good as everyone tells me. [Former Barcelona midfielder Geovani] Dos Santos came for big money and a big reputation and I have not seen him.”
Redknapp is expected to give a debut to Dean Parrett, the 17-year-old midfield player, as temperatures are forecast to drop to around -7C (20F) at the RSC Olympiyskiy Stadium. “It’s just a poor pitch — you wouldn’t play in the non-League like that,” Redknapp said.
Harry Redknapp to be quizzed again over transfers
(PA/Joe Giddens)
Redknapp faces further questioning from Revenue & Customs
Sean O’Neill, Crime Editor, Gary Jacob, Donetsk, Ukraine
Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, is likely to face further questioning in the long-running investigation into football transfers. He is expected to be interviewed by investigators from Revenue & Customs who have taken the lead in the inquiry from City of London Police. Sources told The Times that the focus of the inquiry has shifted from allegations of fraud and money laundering to “possible tax-related offences”.
One said: “The serious criminal investigation has run into the sand, it’s now going down the Al Capone route.” The Crown Prosecution Service, after studying the evidence gathered by police for six months, is not prepared to bring charges against Redknapp or other football figures who have been questioned by police.
Files on the investigation have been passed to the Revenue & Customs Prosecuting Office. Since the handover, investigators have rearrested Karren Brady, the Birmingham City managing director, and Peter Storrie, the Portsmouth executive chairman.
Seven figures from the game have been arrested during Operation Apprentice, which has been running since April 2007 at an estimated cost of £250,000. Redknapp was detained after a dawn raid on his home in 2007 and released on police bail.
Related Links
Redknapp wins court claim over police raid
Comment: Kaveh Solhekol
Redknapp launches High Court action
In the shorter term, Redknapp has other problems to contend with as he faces six matches in 17 days. Concerned by their league position and the fear of injuries, Redknapp has left behind seven senior players for the match against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Uefa Cup round of 32, first leg in Ukraine this evening.
Wilson Palacios could be the most significant absentee, having added bite to the midfield since he joined last month from Wigan Athletic.
Ledley King has his long-term knee complaint but Carlo Cudicini, Jonathan Woodgate, Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric have minor niggles, and Gareth Bale has a virus. Vedran Corluka, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko are ineligible.
Tottenham play Hull City on Monday in the Barclays Premier League and Shakhtar again three days later. “It is a juggling act and I need to keep them sharp,” Redknapp said. “We are in a relegation battle and the fixture list is crazy. If we were sitting in the top half we’d be putting everything into getting this result.
“We will find out whether the kids [in the squad] are as good as everyone tells me. [Former Barcelona midfielder Geovani] Dos Santos came for big money and a big reputation and I have not seen him.”
Redknapp is expected to give a debut to Dean Parrett, the 17-year-old midfield player, as temperatures are forecast to drop to around -7C (20F) at the RSC Olympiyskiy Stadium. “It’s just a poor pitch — you wouldn’t play in the non-League like that,” Redknapp said.