Premiership: England goalie 'victim of alleged blackmail plot'
England goalkeeper David James is the victim of an alleged blackmail plot being investigated by police, it emerged today.
A demand for £28,000 has been made to James’s club, Premier League West Ham, and a threat made to expose alleged links between the player and a man suspected of involvement in supplying drugs, according to a report in a British tabloid.
Detectives from Plaistow CID, who are investigating the incident, say James is in no way involved in any illegal activity, according to sources close to the inquiry.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said today: ‘‘Police are investigating an allegation of crime, and inquiries are continuing.
‘‘A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of blackmail on April 19 and has been released on bail to a date in June.’’
The newspaper said the player was ‘‘very upset’’ over the alleged demands.
A spokesman for West Ham today declined to comment.
James arrived at Upton Park last year on a £3.5m deal from Aston Villa.
He has previously played for Liverpool and Watford and is in the frame to be named in Sven Goran Eriksson’s England side for this summer’s World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
