Newcastle United fans react to club arrest

A fraud probe into both West Ham United and Newcastle United has seen arrests made at both clubs with Newcastle’s managing director Lee Charnley believed to be among those arrested.

HMRC has carried out raids at both St James’s Park and Upton Park as they launch a tax investigation into the two clubs.

Newcastle have issued a statement following Charnley’s arrest:

“Newcastle United can confirm that a member of its staff has this morning been assisting HMRC with their inquiries.”

Charnley has been at the club for three years and believed to have been instrumental in persuading Rafa Benitez to stay at the club when it appeared the former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager’s stint at St James’s would be a short one.

Reports indicate Charnley was released without charge yesterday afternoon.

All this has been a small distraction from what’s been a successful season for the Magpies as this week saw them promoted back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Fans have been giving their reaction on social media to the Charnley’s arrest and the club’s statement:

@NUFC Did they arrest the bloke who writes the statements as well?

— . (@__RG27) April 26, 2017

@NUFC I think that’s the most pointless statement ever

— JackBryan8 (@Jackbryan27) April 26, 2017

@Danielle92_ @NUFC Newcastle United can officially confirm, today, that something happened at some time somewhere. We won’t be issuing any further comments.

— Herbert Sherbert (@terrybrokebad) April 26, 2017

@NUFC Could have said this hours ago, howay man there’s thousands of worried fans waiting for a statement and this is what we get?

— Ryan (@RyMorris95) April 26, 2017

@NUFC @sehol That’s a long statement I better sit down to read it

— shaun smith (@tempersmith) April 26, 2017

@NUFC Jesus man ever since Ashley and charnley took over it’s been all down hill Rafa will be off he’s not a man to messed around

— bd (@ballfoot101) April 26, 2017