West Ham United to sue the Sunday Times over allegations of corruption
West Ham United football club has said it plans to sue the Sunday Times and Premier League club Tottenham Spur over corruption allegations during its bid to take over the Olympic stadium following the games.
The football club won the bid to move to the east London stadium, beating Tottenham for the prize.
Last week, Tottenham applied to the High Court in London to continue their battle for a judicial review into the decision, with attempts so far for an appeal on the decision refused.
A report in the Sunday Times on 3 July claimed that secret payments had been made to the Olympic Park Legacy Company, who unanimously made the decision to appoint West ham to the stadium.
The football club said in a statement on their website: “West Ham United can confirm the club are taking legal action in relation to allegations made in today's Sunday Times.
“We are certain of the robustness of our successful bid for the Olympic Stadium.
“The newspaper's statement that Tottenham Hotspur employed the investigators who obtained private information illegally is one we are treating with the utmost seriousness and no doubt data protection and prosecution agencies may also do so.
“The only wrongdoing here is by those who have broken the law and obtained private information. It would appear that no stone has gone unturned trying to find a way to undermine our bid including apparently targeting the 14 Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) Board members who had voted unanimously on the bid in our favour.
“The suggestion of 'secret cash' in the Sunday Times article is absolutely and categorically denied. As such, legal action is being taken against the Sunday Times, as well as Tottenham Hotspur.
“Dionne Knight's work for the Legacy Stadium Partnership (LSP) owned 50% by London Borough of Newham and 50% by West Ham United was in relation to the procurement of a construction partner after the Olympic Games.
“A number of companies applied for the procurement contract. It was awarded to Ms Knight as she was able to provide expertise at a significantly competitive price. The work that she subsequently undertook for the LSP was of a very high standard.
“The OPLC has confirmed that Ms Knight had absolutely no involvement in the bidding process and we repeat that secret cash was not paid to her.”