Michael McIndoe scandal: Unnamed ex-England star 'lost around £1 million' in investment scheme
A former England international is the latest top footballer said to have lost money in an investment scheme connected with ex-Wolves star Michael McIndoe.
The player – who cannot be named for legal reasons – reportedly lost around £1 million with up to 100 other players.
A source close to the Metropolitan Police investigation said the footballer's name had been passed to detectives looking into the failed scheme worth £30m.
He said: "Like many of those involved, he did not want to be connected to it because it is hugely embarrassing for them.
"This scheme was the talk of the football world and a lot of players invested through third parties.
"It seems there are players now who are more confident in coming forward."
It is believed the player could be interviewed as a potential witness in the police investigation into the scheme.
It has previously been revealed more 50 people have been interviewed by detectives from the Met's Falcon Fraud Squad.
Former Wolves striker Robbie Keane and at least five others associated with the club have reportedly lost around £2.6m between them.
A source close to the club said a consortium of Wolves players gave McIndoe, aged 35, more than £1m in cash in a single payment into his scheme in 2011.
There is no suggestion that any of those paying money into the scheme were anything other than genuine investors. Players invested believing they would get a guaranteed 20 per cent return.
But it collapsed in 2011 and the payments stopped.
McIndoe lived a playboy lifestyle and was pictured living the high life and once spent nearly 40,000 euros at a party at the Ocean Club in Marbella and flew out models to join young players.
He is also believed to have ploughed some of his money into private members' club, Stamp on London's Oxford Street.
Players said it was never revealed what the money was being invested in but it was thought to be gold, property and shares.
McIndoe, 35, told a bankruptcy hearing earlier this year he was a 'professional gambler' and did not know how much he'd lost by gambling during his football career.
He also told the hearing that there was a 'media frenzy' surrounding his case.
McIndoe also played for Hereford, Luton, Yeovil, Doncaster, Bristol City, Barnsley, Coventry, and MK Dons during his career in addition to his spell at Molineux.
A Met Police spokesman said: "Officers have spoken to a number of individuals in connection with this allegation and are following up the information provided to them."
