Paul Gascoigne’s former agent, Ian Elliott, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.

“Middlesbrough FC can confirm that it was approached some time ago by Stewart Downing with concerns he had regarding the way his and his company’s affairs have been handled,” said a statement. “The club advised him to involve lawyers and accountants to investigate these concerns. Having established his position, Stewart made a formal complaint to Cleveland Police who have since been investigating matters. This led to the arrest today of a man and a woman relating to the investigation. The Football Association are aware of the position and are continuing to monitor its progress.” An FA spokesman said: “The FA can confirm that it was made aware by Middlesbrough FC of concerns relating to the alleged actions of a licensed football agent in connection to their player, Stewart Downing’s financial affairs.
“The FA then acted as liaison between the club and Cleveland Police. We will continue to liaise with both parties to ensure that any potential breaches of football regulations are dealt with at the appropriate time.” The arrests are not connected to the investigation by the City of London Police into alleged corruption in football. Elliott was released on police bail without charge yesterday and declined to comment, while Downing, who was born and brought up in Middlesbrough, is with the England squad as they prepare for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia.