British police officers investigating football corruption raided Birmingham today, police confirmed. The early-morning swoop on the Premier League club was carried out by City of London Police.

A spokeswoman for the force said: "We can confirm that officers from the City of London Police executed a search warrant at a premises this morning in connection with the ongoing investigation into football corruption."

The spokeswoman denied the raid was connected to the Lord Stevens' inquiry into illicit payments to football agents.

She said: "Our investigation is entirely separate from the Lord Stevens' inquiry."

Birmingham said they were "cooperating fully" with police and stressed that the inquiry relates to a third party, unconnected to the club.

A club statement said: "The club is cooperating fully with the police in their inquiries which relate to an unconnected third party or third parties. For the avoidance of doubt, no-one connected with the club has been questioned or arrested.

"No further comment will be made by the club".