LONDON (AFP) - Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan and Managing Director Karren Brady were arrested on Wednesday by British police as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in English football.

Though City of London Police, the force charged with investigating irregularities in transfer dealings, declined to confirm the names of the two people arrested, Britain's Press Association said, citing unnamed sources, they were Brady and Sullivan.

In a statement, the police force said: "A 59-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman were today arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting, as part of the City of London Police's ongoing investigation into football corruption."

It added that the pair had been released on bail, and said that seven other people remained on bail in connection with the inquiry.

Birmingham later confirmed that Sullivan and Brady had been interviewed by police.

A statement from the club said: "David Sullivan and Karren Brady on behalf of Birmingham City Football Club were invited to co-operate with a City of London Police investigation and have happily done so. By longstanding appointment, they have willingly attended interviews today.

"Birmingham City is fully committed to helping the Police with their enquiries. For the avoidance of doubt, no charges have been brought.

"We have been requested by the Police not to comment further whilst their enquiry is ongoing."

An investigation concluded last year by former London police chief John Stevens involved 362 transfers involving English clubs and found that 17 of them could not be cleared as legitimate.