Tottenham deny Olympic stadium ‘spy’ claim

English Premier League side Tottenham on Tuesday denied claims they carried out an extensive surveillance operation during their unsuccessful bid for the 2012 Olympic stadium.

Margaret Ford, the head of the Olympic Park Legacy Board, the organisation which voted on the future of the stadium this year, had earlier claimed all 14 members of the board were spied on by Spurs.

"The club did not undertake, instruct or engage any party to conduct surveillance on any member of the OPLC Committee and we consider the making of this baseless accusation to be wholly inappropriate and irresponsible," Spurs said. "We totally reject the accusation in the strongest possible terms."

Spurs' denial came as police confirmed they had arrested a 29-year-old in connection with the allegations as officers carried out a series of searches at multiple addresses.

Ford earlier told London lawmakers that police were now investigating the claims following the acrimonious bidding process which saw West Ham pip Spurs for the right to move into the venue.

"The thing that I have learned in the last 12 months is that there has been all kinds of behaviour," Ford said.

"There has been legal challenges and people have stood behind it anonymously - all kinds of things have happened.

"My board were put under surveillance by Tottenham Hotspur and the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur felt confident enough to say that in the Sunday Times several months ago that all 14 members of my board were put under surveillance.

"The Metropolitan Police are now conducting an investigation into that surveillance.

"There has been all kinds of behaviour here that I could not have anticipated which, believe me, has not been pleasant in the last 12 months."

West Ham's deal with Newham Council to use the Olympic stadium collapsed last month amid mounting legal challenges.