Goals Soccer Centres calls in Serious Fraud Office
Five-a-side football company Goals Soccer Centres has called in the Serious Fraud Office to investigate a case of potential accounting fraud.
The firm has passed files of evidence to the authorities in the last ten days after Goals was forced to delist from the London Stock Exchange, Sky News reported.
Read more: Sports Direct says ‘skullduggery’ wiped out shareholders at Goals Soccer Centres
The Financial Conduct Authority is also reportedly investigating the firm after trading in its shares were suspended in March after Goals said it had made a “substantial misdeclaration of VAT”.
The accounting black hole was initially reported to be approximately £12m, however, last month the firm warned that the figure could be “materially higher”.
It said that “due to the identification of improper behaviour on the part of a small number of individuals historically within the company” it cannot accurately state how much it owes HMRC.
In August it was also reported that auditor BDO had uncovered “substantial destruction” of electronic information as part of a probe into the alleged accounting fraud.
Read more: Goals Soccer Centres warns HMRC black hole could be higher than £12m
Goals has previously confirmed that the actions of former chief executive Keith Rogers and ex-finance chief Bill Gow were the subject of an internal investigation.
Goals operates around 45 five-a-side venues in the UK and also has a joint venture with Manchester City owner City Football Group in California.
Main image credit: Getty