Milan Mandaric, the former Portsmouth chairman who is now chairman at Leicester City, will offer his “full and total support” to police after being arrested as part of an investigation into corruption in football.

Mandaric was one of five men to be questioned by detectives from the anti-corruption unit of the City of London Police yesterday morning.

Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, Peter Storrie, the club’s chief executive, Amdy Faye, the former Portsmouth midfielder now with Rangers and agent Willie McKay were also questioned.

City of London Police interviewed the men after arresting them on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting.

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The fact that the police are carrying out the investigation raises the issue of whether the football authorities are equipped properly to regulate the game

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Background

• Police arrest Redknapp over dealings

• Whispers will not go away for wheeler-dealer

• Newell left on a road to nowhere

• Mandaric will ''offer full support' to police

Background

• Fans’ chants for Mandaric silenced

• Former bookie who knew value of being the middleman

• Faye gets caught in Redknapp’s net

• Old pals that survived Upton Park fallout

Background

• Police moves highlight FA resources shortfall

• How events unfolded

Related Links

• Police arrest Redknapp over dealings

• Whispers will not go away for wheeler-dealer

• Fans’ chants for Mandaric silenced

A spokesman for Mandaric said: “I can confirm that on Wednesday morning Mr Mandaric was asked to assist City of London Police with their enquiries into a matter dating back to 2003 at his former club Portsmouth.

“Mr Mandaric made himself readily available and fully co-operated with the police enquiry.

“While the investigation remains ongoing, Mr Mandaric will continue to offer his full and total support to the police and will refrain from making any further public statement at this time.”

The arrests are the most dramatic development yet in an ongoing inquiry by fraud detectives to root out corruption in football.

Last year, the Football Association brought in former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington and his company, Quest, to carry out a separate inquiry into suspect transfers.

Detectives are believed to be focusing on Faye’s transfers from Auxerre to Portsmouth in August 2003 and Portsmouth to Newcastle in January 2005.

Mandaric was Portsmouth chairman at the time of Faye’s arrival and departure from the south coast club.

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