By DPA
London : Premiership sides Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Rangers of the Scottish Premier League have revealed that police raided their clubs.
City of London Police had said that they had raided three clubs early Monday, but would not initially reveal which three.
After the Newcastle Evening Chronicle revealed Newcastle was one of the clubs involved, a club spokesman insisted “the club itself” was not under investigation.
“If the investigation by the City of London Police, or the ongoing internal review of operations by the club’s new owners, show that the club has been the victim of any criminal activity, the club will take appropriate action,” he said.
Club spokesmen at Portsmouth and Rangers then admitted they were the other two clubs involved.
The homes of two individuals were also raided, but their identities remain unknown.
Police said the searches were “totally independent” of the Lord Stevens’ Quest inquiry into transfer dealings involving Premier League clubs.
A spokeswoman for London police said: “We can confirm that search warrants were served at three football clubs and the homes of two individuals in connection with corruption in football and its impact on owners and shareholders.
“It has not been influenced or informed by the Quest inquiry in any way.
“As this is a live investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
The Stevens inquiry, which reported in June, refused to clear 17 transfers – 16 of them named – involving four Premiership clubs, including Newcastle.
A 61-year-old man was arrested in Manchester last month on suspicion of money laundering.