AN OUTBREAK of food poisoning that hit the Tottenham Hotspur squad before yesterday’s crucial Barclays Premiership football match against West Ham United is being investigated by police.

At least six Tottenham players, including the England internationals Michael Carrick and Paul Robinson, became sick in the early hours yesterday after eating dinner in the five-star Marriott Hotel in the Canary Wharf area of London’s docklands, on Saturday night.

Police were called and about 20 uniformed officers, plain clothes police and scientific officers arrived. Food samples were taken from the kitchen and the club — which had to win yesterday’s match to keep in the race for next season’s Champions League competition — will report the matter to Tower Hamlets council’s health and safety department today. A clearly debilitated team lost 2-1, allowing their arch-rivals Arsenal to claim the coveted fourth place in the Premiership.

“We have taken food samples from the hotel and we will pass them on to the appropriate authorities,” a Scotland Yard spokesman said. “No allegation has been made by Tottenham.”

Paul Downing, the hotel’s general manager, said: “I was called by someone from Tottenham at 11.15am who said he wanted to tell us that some of the players had become ill. There was no suggestion of foul play, but he asked me whether I minded if they called the police and I said that we wouldn’t.

“Tottenham then called the police and officers arrived at 12.30pm. In circumstances such as these in which guests become ill it is unusual that police are called, but as they are such high-profile guests, and it is a high-profile moment in their season, it is understandable.

“We are going to do all we can to help the police with their investigation. We have not yet contacted Tower Hamlets council’s health and safety department, but will do so tomorrow. Food from the hotel will be sent off to a laboratory where tests will be done.”

He added that no other guests had reported any illness.

The Tottenham squad ate a buffet supper on Saturday and six players were taken ill in the early hours, with many of them thought to have eaten lasagne. On discovering the illness, the club asked the Premier League to delay kick-off of their match to give the players more time to recover, but were denied. All six affected footballers played in the fixture. Mr Downing added: “Tottenham ate in a private function room. We provided them with a buffet. Our chefs and catering staff liaised with them over what was on the set menu.”

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