Sir Cliff, who performed at Sheffield’s Bramall Lane football ground before a crowd of 47,000 people in 1985, wrote on his Facebook page that the allegation was ‘completely false’.
The BBC filmed a raid by police on his Berkshire home, leading to severe criticism of the broadcaster and South Yorkshire police. Nearly 500 complaints were received about the coverage and both the BBC director-general Tony Hall, who defended the corporation’s actions, and South Yorkshire chief constable David Crompton have been summoned to appear before Parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee.
Sir Cliff was subsequently interviewed by South Yorkshire Police but was neither arrested nor charged. He has withdrawn from several public engagements, including a ceremony in which he was to be awarded the Freedom of Albufeira near his home in Portugal.
