LONDON: Watford are being investigated by the English Football League after an article in The Daily Telegraph which claimed the Premier League club supplied false financial information to the organisation.

The allegations, reported in the newspaper, focus on Gino Pozzo’s takeover of the Hornets in 2014, when he assumed complete control from his father Giampaolo.

The Daily Telegraph article claimed a forged banking letter was supplied shortly before the club’s 2014-15 promotion-winning campaign, showing that ‘Pozzo had enough funds to bankroll Watford’ and which allowed the Italian to take total control of the Hertfordshire team.

The article describes how the alleged fabricated letter appeared to be from global banking giant HSBC, who have since been shown a copy of the document.

The Telegraph report says there is nothing to indicate Gino Pozzo himself had any knowledge that a forged HSBC letter had been obtained or submitted on his behalf.

An EFL spokesman said: “We can confirm, following receipt of information from the Daily Telegraph, that we immediately commenced a disciplinary investigation into serious allegations made against Watford Football Club.

“The club has been formally contacted by the EFL and is now required to provide a full and detailed response to the allegations.

“Once that response is received, it will be fully considered by the EFL and appropriate action will be taken under our rules and regulations.

“We will not be making any further comment until we are in receipt of the club’s response.”

If Watford are found guilty of falsifying documents they could face a heavy fine and a possible points deduction.

The club released a statement to the Telegraph, saying: “There are two ongoing investigations. It would be inappropriate to comment further until those investigations reach completion.

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