In January of 2013, Newcastle United raided the French transfer market and signed five players to help keep them in the Premier League.
More than four years on, however, it is the club’s St James’ Park stadium and training ground which are the target of the raids by HMRC officials.
Newcastle’s long-standing links with agents, intermediaries and clubs in France, it would appear, is a key focus of the investigation into Income Tax and National Insurance fraud.
Managing director Lee Charnley has been arrested and his Tyneside home has also been raided.