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Crown Prosecution Service considers football 'corruption' claims

Corruption
Image: The CPS has confirmed to Sky Sports News that a full evidence file is being considered by specialist lawyers

Prosecutors are considering whether to charge anyone over alleged football corruption after receiving evidence from the City of London Police.

The Crown Prosecution Service [CPS] was sent evidence from police last month following an investigation by the Daily Telegraph in September last year.

It follows a police inquiry into a "single suspected offence of bribery."

A spokesperson for the CPS told Sky Sports News: "I can confirm the CPS received a full file of evidence in October 2017 and this is currently being considered by specialist lawyers, who will make a charging decision in due course."

The Football Association has yet to receive transcripts and footage in relation to the claims and cannot launch its own investigation until the outcome of any criminal proceedings.

It has delayed a potential probe into former England manager Sam Allardyce and any other individual named in the newspaper investigation.

Allardyce, who denied wrongdoing, may yet face action from English football's governing body but was informed by the City of London Police that he was not under police investigation.

He said at the time: "I was always confident that this would be the case as there was no evidence against me. I now ask that the Football Association deals with this matter as quickly as possible."

Last year Barnsley announced assistant head coach Tommy Wright's contract had been terminated in September and said in a statement: "After considering Mr Wright's response to allegations in today's Daily Telegraph about breaching FA rules over player transfers, Mr Wright was dismissed."

Wright has denied any wrongdoing.

In November last year the City of London Police announced they had launched a criminal investigation into a "single suspected offence of bribery" after detectives from the London Police Economic Crime Directorate conducted a review of material.

The police did not name the individual, or individuals, under suspicion.

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