- Tottenham are accused of breaching transfer rules in 2008
- The FA have now confirmed they will ‘investigate’ Defoe’s move to Portsmouth
- Everton’s players must be fed up with the owners – listen up It all starts
The FA have confirmed they will ‘investigate’ Jermain Defoe’s move from Spurs to Portsmouth in 2008, which was reportedly in breach of transfer rules.
A report from the Times has claimed Spurs could find themselves in hot water after evidence appears to show they used an unlicensed agent in negotiations that saw Defoe complete a £7.5million move to Pompey.
At the time, the FA decided not to take action against Tottenham, but English football’s governing body has revealed it will investigate the matter.
As confirmed by the timesan FA statement said on Wednesday: ‘We are reviewing the matter and as part of this we will review the arbitration panel’s ruling.’
The newspaper also further confirmed that the football governing body would reopen the case against the north London side, after previously taking no action.
The Football Association have confirmed they will investigate allegations that Tottenham broke transfer rules during Jermain Defoe’s move to Portsmouth in 2008 (above)
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Breaching FA rules for agents has led to clubs facing points deductions, director suspensions and transfer bans imposed. The same year, Luton Town were given 10 points for breaching agent rules.
“The case was heard by an independent arbitration panel 15 years ago,” an FA spokeswoman said.
‘The FA was not a party to the arbitration. It is unclear how much information was shared with the FA at the time and no disciplinary action was taken.
“If there is new evidence that was not available at the time that suggests serious breaches of our rules have occurred, we will assess that.”
The Times report claims that former West Ham and Tottenham player Mitchell Thomas – who was a ‘central figure’ in Defoe’s move to Portsmouth – was an unlicensed agent at the time.
It is claimed that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, Defoe and then Spurs manager Harry Redknapp all dealt with Thomas during the deal.
Agents may act on behalf of a player in a transfer, but must be licensed and have a formal representation contract.
The contract between an agent and a player must contain ‘the entire agreement between the parties relating to the agent activity’, including details of the commission payable.
The FA rules at the time – which are still in force – stated that players and clubs cannot use unlicensed agents to complete transfer deals.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy (right) approved Defoe’s move to Fratton Park in 2008
Reports claim Spurs used an unlicensed agent in negotiations that saw Defoe complete a £7.5m move to Pompey
The report further claims that failure to comply with these rules can lead to serious sanctions, up to and including relegation.
The FA reportedly decided not to take action in January 2010 – despite having access to detailed telephone records and knowing Thomas had played a role in helping seal Defoe’s move to Fratton Park – because they claimed Wembley officials did not have all had relevant documentation. the time.
One FA director was said not to have even been informed of the Defoe case at the time.
Thomas was named by the FA in 2008 in a list of agents operating without the correct licence.