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Former Newcastle midfielder arrested as HMRC investigation spreads – Reports

7 years ago
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Wednesday’s HMRC investigation into Newcastle United and the affairs of others, has seen former NUFC midfielder Sylvain Marveaux included in the drama.

French newspaper Le Parisien report that their information is that they know of three agents being arrested along with Marveaux and all four taken in for questioning as part of the all encompassing investigation.

One of Mike Ashley and Graham Carr’s disastrous ‘bargain’ signings, in the five years he was on Newcastle’s books the midfielder/winger started only 13 Premier League matches and scored a single league goal.

Loaned out to Ligue 1 minnows Guingamp in 2014/15, Newcastle were never going to manage to get rid of the player who wasn’t good enough and had no heart/desire to compete in English football.

Rafa Benitez didn’t give him a minute on the pitch and instead decided to pay off both Sylvain Marveaux and Gabriel Obertan off before their contracts ended in June 2016, just to get them out of the club.

As a free agent, Sylvain Marveaux joined Lorient last summer and is currently out injured, scoring five league goals this season but seeing his team in a relegation struggle with four games remaining.

The Mail have also reported on the French media reports and they also claim to have other sources on the overall story, with some quite dramatic additions to the tale of the HMRC investigation.

The English newspaper claims one of their sources has told them:

‘The belief is that organised criminal gangs based in Corsica and mainland France were working with senior officials at the club (Marseille), agents and other parties,

‘Marseille has done a lot of high profile business with both West Ham and Newcastle in recent years, and accordingly both British clubs are being brought into this enquiry.’

George Caulkin of The Times broke the story yesterday:

“My understanding is that HM Revenue & Customs are investigating transfer activity at Newcastle United & that Lee Charnley has been arrested.”

HMRC confirmed the news:

“180 HMRC officers have been deployed across the UK and France today.

“Investigators have searched a number of premises in the North East and South East 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.

“This criminal investigation sends a clear message that, whoever you are, if you commit tax fraud you can expect to face the consequences.

“As this is an ongoing investigation HMRC is unable to provide any further detail at this time.”

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