A HUSBAND and wife have been arrested following allegations that a charity linked to Middlesbrough Football Club has been defrauded of tens of thousands of pounds.

Fraud squad investigators from Cleveland Police arrested the couple – a 31-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man from the Middlesbrough area – on suspicion of fraud and money laundering at Middlesbrough Football Club in the Community’s Eston site.

The woman is understood to be Terasa Richards, who was the charity’s financial and operational manager.

The couple have been bailed, pending further inquiries.

It is believed that the pair worked for the charity. The alleged fraud is understood to have come to light following an internal investigation by the organisation. The Middlesbrough FC in the Community charity was the idea of Boro chairman Steve Gibson and was established in 1995 with the aim of putting something back into the community.

The organisation promotes football development and uses football in education to encourage healthy lifestyles.

Although the charity receives financial support from Middlesbrough FC, it is a separate entity to the football club and has its own board of trustees. It also receives funding from other sources.

The charity is based at two sites – the Willie Maddren Centre, at the Riverside Stadium, and Middlesbrough Football Community Centre, at Eston.

The fraud and money laundering allegations relate to the Eston site.

In a statement to The Northern Echo last night, Dave Allan, head of communications at Middlesbrough Football Club, said: “We can confirm that, following an internal investigation, we are now assisting the police with inquiries regarding financial irregularities relating to our community scheme.”

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: “A 31-year-old female and a 39-year-old male have been arrested for fraud and money laundering at Middlesbrough football Club in the Community, in Eston.

“They have been released on bail.”