RAFAEL BENITEZ has insisted it is "business as usual" at Newcastle United, following dramatic raids at its ground and training facility and one of the club’s former players being arrested as part of a huge cross-Channel investigation.

Former Newcastle winger Sylvain Marveaux was among four people arrested as the French authorities supported their British counterparts as part of an ongoing inquiry into an alleged £5m income tax and National Insurance fraud.

The Northern Echo: KEEN CONTEST: Fulham’s John Arne Riise, left, and Newcastle United’s Sylvain Marveaux battle for the ball

FRENCH ARREST: Former Newcastle winger Sylvain Marveaux

Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley was released without charge after he was arrested ahead of raids on both St James’ Park and the Magpies’ Darsley Park training ground.

Speaking ahead of his side’s Championship game at Cardiff City, Benitez claimed the events had not prevented him from preparing his team.

The Newcastle manager said: “There is an investigation about something that happened four or five years ago. I will not talk about the investigation. I will do my usual business in terms of football.

“What we did was train as usual – a normal session. I have talked with Lee about pre-season, and we are trying to do football business in the same way.” 

HMRC’s interest in Newcastle United is understood to have been sparked by an initial investigation into the transfer of striker Demba Ba from West Ham in 2011.

However, it is also believed that officials are now examining transfers involving Marveaux, Yohan Cabaye, Mathieu Debuchy and Henri Saivet along with other French players.

Chief scout Graham Carr was integral to the purchase of all of those players, and the 72-year-old expects to be contacted by HMRC officials at some stage in the future.

Mr Carr has also revealed that club owner Mike Ashley had not been aware of Wednesday’s raids prior to them taking place, having left the day-to-day running of the club to Mr Charnley.

“Mike Ashley didn’t know nothing about the raid or nothing like that,” said Carr. “He found out from the news.

“He’s been to one match I know of this year, he’s stepped back (from) his business interests. He wouldn’t know what is going on in the office.

“He probably knows the terms in the gross figures, intake, outage and all that. I don’t know how much attention he would pay to agents. He was probably leaving Lee Charnley to run the club.

“The investigators probably will be in touch with me. I’m here and I’m not hiding anything. I’m willing to speak to them, I’ve got nothing to hide.”