HMRC drop four-year-long investigation into West Ham
HMRC have concluded their criminal investigation into West Ham after a four-year-long battle, according to Sky Sports.
The offices of West Ham and Newcastle United were raided back in April 2017 as part of a wide-ranging investigation into suspected criminal tax fraud, with 50 HMRC officials pitching up at the London Stadium to access important documents. [Guardian]
Over four years later that official probe has now come to an end with HMRC dropping the cases, though they have issued a reminder that a line has not been drawn under this.
An HMRC spokesman told Sky Sports, “We do not comment on specific individuals or businesses, but in general terms it would be wrong to assume that the end of a criminal investigation means the end of our work.
“We have a raft of civil powers that we can deploy, including penalties of up to 200 per cent of the tax due, along with interest and payment of the disputed tax in full.
“We take all reports of suspected tax evasion extremely seriously and we thoroughly analyse and investigate them.”
All over?
Officially it looks like that’s everything done and dusted, with the Irons suffering no punishment.
But HMRC’s parting shot suggests they’re still keeping their eyes open.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has come out fighting from this, as he said, “It is now time for the dark forces that are preventing this football club from becoming the powerhouse that the fans deserve, to step aside.” [Sky Sports]
GSB are yet to publicly comment on the news so we’re not sure whether there is a sense of relief or anger emanating from them after this lengthy cloud over them was finally lifted.
But it should be one less thing to worry about from a board and financial point of view, so there should be some encouragement at this.
Who knows the potential ramifications had the club been found guilty of something sinister – huge fines, transfer bans, points deductions? Who knows, but it wouldn’t have been pretty.
In other West Ham news, European giants enter £30m race for Irons target Gary Lineker called ‘Exceptional’.
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