• McKay was involved in Emiliano Sala’s transfer to Cardiff • Allegations relate to dispute that followed player’s death

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The man who brokered the deal that brought Emiliano Sala to Cardiff is under investigation for an alleged public order offence in London, the Metropolitan police have confirmed.

Willie McKay, who is no longer registered as a football agent but helped his son Mark to complete the ill-fated Sala transfer, has been the subject of an investigation by South Wales police over claims he threatened to kill staff at the Premier League club in a dispute about who is liable for damages following the death of Sala in a plane crash.

Willie McKay: I have been made a scapegoat over Sala crash Read more

In a brief statement the Welsh force said the investigation “has been transferred to the Metropolitan police service”.

It is understood at least one of the alleged threats has been claimed to have occurred in London and that was confirmed in a statement from the Metropolitan police on Thursday.

“[We] have received an allegation of a possible public order offence that took place at Kendal Street, W2 on Friday 22 February,” a spokesperson said. “Officers from central area command unit are investigating. No arrests have been made at this time.”

Kendal Street is in an upmarket part of London north of Hyde Park and 22 February was six days after Sala’s funeral in Argentina.

Sala died, along with the pilot David Ibbotson, when the Piper Malibu aircraft they were travelling in came down in the Channel on 21 January.

McKay has said that he paid for the flight, and several others related to the transfer, but did not choose the pilot or the plane. He and his son Mark have repeatedly denied wrongdoing, though McKay has not responded to questions about the police investigation.

Cardiff declined to comment on this or the police investigation when asked by Press Association.