Footballer on 'fake notes' charge

William 'Winkie' Murphy is the captain of Linfield

The captain of Linfield football club, William 'Winkie' Murphy, has been charged with introducing counterfeit bank notes into Spain.

The player was arrested earlier this month, while visiting Torremolinos on a stag party with some team-mates.

The arrest related to an incident in Spain in 2007 when he was detained after allegedly passing counterfeit money.

There has been no comment from Mr Murphy's legal team or Linfield.

A spokeswoman for Spain's National Criminal Court confirmed to the BBC that Mr Murphy had been formally accused of introducing counterfeit currency into Spain, an offence which carries a minimum jail term of eight years.

After Mr Murphy was arrested in 2007 he returned home to Northern Ireland. It is not clear what undertakings he gave about returning to Spain.

He is being held on remand in Madrid.