United star arrested in immigration clampdown

Police confirmed that a footballer, believed to be the Newcastle United midfielder, has been interviewed.

The 26-year-old Peruvian was one of a number of international players in Britain caught up in a Government crackdown on illegal EU passports earlier this year.

He has played for Newcastle since he was signed by then manager Kenny Dalglish in August 1998 on the basis he had EU papers through a Greek grandmother.

Embassy officials in Peru's capital, Lima, said then they had no knowledge of a Greek passport issued to the star.

Solano insisted that his father's grandfather is a Greek immigrant which entitles him to acquire Greek nationality.

The player has been re-registered with the Premiership as a Peruvian national, with a valid work permit.

Sources say the star was arrested at his home yesterday and was taken to Newcastle's Gosforth police station, where he was quizzed for having a fake passport.

He was later released on police bail - but it is not yet known if he is to face charges.

Both Nothumbria police and the Home Office confirmed that a footballer had been interviewed by police following information from the immigration service. A file is to be passed to the CPS.

His arrest comes just four months after Solano was banned from the roads after police caught him drink-driving at twice the legal limit.

He was banned from driving for 18 months after he was stopped by an unmarked police car. He was unavailable yesterday at his £200,000 home on an exclusive estate at Benton, Newcastle.

Newcastle United confirmed yesterday that the player had been arrested over allegations he holds a fake passport.

A spokesman said: "Nolberto Solano has cooperated fully with the investigation, giving a detailed explanation of his possession of the passport in question, as police continue with their enquiries.

"Mr Solano is confident that his explanation will be accepted and ultimately he will be found to have done nothing improper."