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Español2006 ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION IN ENGLISH FOOTBALL
In 2006, several allegations were made of corruption in English football by sources inside and outside of the game.
In January 2006, Luton Town manager Mike Newell and then-manager of Queens Park Rangers Ian Holloway alleged that backhanders (bribes) were rife in the sport [1]
[2]
[3]
The Football Association subsequently held talks with the two managers and established an enquiry.
On 19 September, 2006 the BBC current affairs television programme Panorama broadcast a special investigation into corruption in English football which had begun filming in August 2005.
''"Undercover: Football's Dirty Secrets"'' included footage shown of meetings between agents, managers and high ranking football club officials, filmed undercover by Knut auf dem Berge, a freelance coach posing as a prospective football agent. This footage purported to show agents and managers accepting backhanders and illegally "tapping-up" players under contract to other clubs.
These allegations included:
★ That Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce, and his agent son Craig were alleged to have accepted "bungs" (bribes) from agents for signing certain players. Two agents, Teni Yerima and Peter Harrison, were secretly filmed, each separately claiming that they had paid Allardyce through his son. Allardyce denies ever taking, or asking for, a bung.[4] The programme was aired on the same night that Bolton beat Walsall 3-1 in the Carling Cup, so Allardyce missed the original showing
★ Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is secretly filmed discussing the possibility of buying the Blackburn Rovers captain Andy Todd with agent Peter Harrison, which is illegal under FA rules. However, the programme merely showed Harrison approaching Redknapp and asking direct questions which Redknapp answered.
★ Then Portsmouth first-team coach Kevin Bond, first team coach of Newcastle United when the programme was aired, is secretly recorded admitting he would consider discussing receiving payments from a proposed new agency involving agent Peter Harrison. This was the programme's description; it did not seem explicit from the extract broadcast. Bond was suspended and then sacked by Newcastle as a result of the allegations.
★ Chelsea director of youth football Frank Arnesen is secretly filmed making an illegal approach or "tapping up" Middlesbrough's England youth star 15-year-old Nathan Porritt. Arnesen offers a fee of £150,000 spread over three years as an incentive to move, although he had been advised that it was 99.9% certain that Porritt would leave Middlesbrough. Both of these allegations are illegal under FA rules. Officials from Liverpool and Newcastle United were also implicated in attempts to sign Porritt.[5]
★ Agent Peter Harrison told the undercover reporter that, to secure transfer deals with Bolton, he bribed Sam Allardyce by offering to pay his son Craig. Harrison is a FIFA-listed agent, who is based in the north-east of England.
★ That three different Bolton transfer signings involved secret payments from agents to Craig Allardyce, some when he was contractually banned from doing any Bolton deals. Panorama alleged Bolton's transfer signings of defender Tal Ben Haim, midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata and goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi involved secret payments from agents to Craig Allardyce. Allardyce's son quit the agency business in summer 2006, and has admitted in newspaper interviews that his working as an agent might have cost his father the chance of becoming England manager.
★ Agent Charles Collymore, is secretly filmed in the Panorama film, saying: ''"There's managers out there who take bungs all day long. I would say to you comfortably there's six to eight managers we could definitely approach and they'd be up for this no problem."'' Later, Collymore is named publicly for the first time by Luton Town manager Mike Newell as the agent who offered him an illegal payment. Collymore also represents England cricketer Simon Jones.
The programme also claimed to have set up a 'sting' involving handing a cash payment to an unnamed Premiership manager, but the alleged manager did not turn up at the rendezvous. The programme claimed that he had been scared off by Mike Newell's claims being revealed that same day.
On 26 September, the Telegraph alleged that an unlicensed agent was paid in the deal to bring Tal Ben Haim to Bolton Wanderers. When the Israeli international moved to England, agent Jamie Hart - the official middle man - was paid a fee by Bolton. But he has now confirmed that unlicensed agent David Abu also received a cut of the fee for the role he played in the deal. Allardyce's son, Craig, a key protagonist in the Panorama documentary, also received a payment but when quizzed on such payments Bolton Chairman Phil Gartside confirmed he had no such knowledge [6]
On 3 March, 2006, The Football Association established an enquiry to be headed by Lord Stevens, former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and former head of an enquiry into corruption in cricket [7]. The initial findings of Stevens' report were announced in December 2006.
On 20 September, The Football Association asked the BBC to provide all of the collected evidence and announced that it would investigate these allegations. It was to investigate allegations of illegal approaches involving Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, along with allegations "relating to players' agents and connected activities" involving Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce, son Craig Allardyce, Newcastle United assistant manager Kevin Bond, and agents Charles Collymore and Peter Harrison [8].
All of those accused of impropriety have denied all allegations arising from the programme, including:
★ 'Sam Allardyce:' placed the matter in the hands of his lawyers [9]. He also confessed: ''“As a father it is painful to watch your son talk tall and exaggerate his influence for financial gain.”'' [10] On 25 September he announced that after lengthy discussions his lawyers had advised that ''"I have a very strong case in relation to the programme, and I am planning to sue the BBC over the false and highly damaging allegations. I have therefore instructed my lawyers to prepare my case against the BBC."'' Allardyce added that he would discuss the matter with Bolton chairman, Phil Gartside, as well as his wife before he took any final decision [11].
★ 'Kevin Bond:' intends to sue the BBC for libel [12]. Newcastle United placed him on gardening leave following the broadcast, and terminated his contract on 26 September. In response, Bond issued a statement claiming that Newcastle had sacked him without investigating properly [13] [14]. Bond was employed again within a month, as manager of AFC Bournemouth.
The League Managers Association has demanded hard evidence: ''"As the organisation which represents managers we were very disappointed with the programme. There was a complete lack of substance and evidence, and if the BBC has any hard evidence it should give it to the Football Association."'' [15] HM Revenue & Customs has also indicated it will look into the claims [15]
It was announced on October 2 2006, that Lord Stevens' inquiry into football corruption, conducted with Quest Ltd, has been extended by two months to investigate 39 transfers involving eight clubs. On 20 December 2006, Stevens presented his preliminary report, which found that the level of corruption within English football was not a high as had been anticipated, there were several causes for concern[17]. 17 transfer deals were still subject to further scrutiny.
On 15 June 2007, Lord Stevens' inquiry issued its final report which raised concerns over issues involving 17 player transfers, involving five clubs, three managers and numerous agents and other third parties. In summary, the report stated: ''“there is no evidence of any irregular payments to club officials or players, and they are identified only as a consequence of the outstanding issues the inquiry has with the agents involved”.''[18].
Details of one of the suspect transfer deals was withheld. The other transfers about which there are unresolved issues are:
===Bolton Wanderers===
★ Ali Al-Habsi (Free transfer from Lyn Oslo - 7 January 2006)
★ Tal Ben Haim (Free transfer from Maccabi - 29 July 2004)
★ Blessing Kaku (Free transfer from F.C. Ashdod - 24 August 2004)
★ Julio Correia (Free transfer from Real Valladolid - 25 July 2004)
There were also unanswered concerns regarding the involvement of Craig Allardyce in a number of transactions. ''“The inquiry remains concerned at the conflict of interest that it believes existed between Craig Allardyce, his father Sam Allardyce - the then manager at Bolton - and the club itself.”''
===Chelsea===
★ Didier Drogba (£24 million from Marseille - 20 July 2004)
★ Petr Čech (£7 million from Rennes - 1 June 2004)
★ Michael Essien (£24.4 million from Lyon - 19 August 2005)
''“Agent Pinhas Zahavi has failed to co-operate fully with the inquiry . There was an initial failure to disclose his involvement in a number of transfers but, more seriously, he has failed to provide the inquiry with complete bank statements due to the confidential nature of them. There has also been a lack of responsiveness by Zahavi. There remains questions relating to his relationship with, and payments to, licensed agent Barry Silkman, and with Silkman's failure to initially disclose his involvement in all the transactions in which he has received fees.”''
===Middlesbrough===
★ Fabio Rochemback (Free transfer from Sporting Lisbon - 31 August 2005)
★ Yakubu Aiyegbeni (£7.5 million from Portsmouth - 4 July 2005)
The statement relating to Zahavi and Silkman above also relates to the two Middlesbrough transfers.
===Newcastle United===
★ Albert Luque (£8.5 million from Deportivo La Coruña – 26 August 2005)
★ Emre Belözoğlu (£3.8 million from Inter Milan – 14 July 2005)
★ Jean-Alain Boumsong (£8 million from Rangers – 1 January 2005)
★ Amdy Faye (£2 million from Portsmouth – 25 January 2005)
''“There remains inconsistencies in evidence provided by Graeme Souness — a former manager of the club — and Kenneth Shepherd”'' (son of the Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd) ''“— apparently acting in an undefined role but not as a club official — as to their respective roles in transfer negotiations.”''
''“The inquiry has been unable to obtain the co-operation of the agent Ahmet Bulut”'' in connection with the Emre transfer.
''“The inquiry is still awaiting clarification from agent Willie McKay”'' in connection with the Boumsong and Faye transfers.
In relation to the Luque transfer: ''“The inquiry still has unanswered questions relating to possible payments made by agent Francis Martin, who Newcastle officials believed was working for the selling club.”''
Souness issued a statement denying any wrong-doing: ''"I cannot understand why my name features in this report. I volunteered full information to Quest as a witness and I have heard nothing further from them."''[19]
The Stevens enquiry then issued a clarification: "We wish to make it clear that inconsistencies did not exist within the evidence given by Graeme Souness to Quest concerning his role in transfers covered by the Inquiry during his time as manager of Newcastle United FC and neither the Premier League nor do Quest have any concerns in this regard"[20].
===Portsmouth===
★ Collins Mbesuma (Free transfer from Kaizer Chiefs – 1 August 2005)
★ Benjani Mwaruwari (£4.1 million from Auxerre – 6 January 2006)
★ Aliou Cissé (£300,000 from Birmingham City – 6 August 2004)
''“Agent Willie McKay acted for the selling club, Auxerre, in the transfer of Benjani and for Portsmouth in the transfer of Cisse and, for the same reason as above”'' {still awaiting clarification) ''“the inquiry is not prepared to clear these transfers at this stage.”''
''“In relation to Benjani’s transfer, the inquiry also has identified concerns regarding the role of (agent) Teni Yerima and (third party) Ralph N’Komo.”''
With regard to manager Harry Redknapp, his ownership of a racehorse named "Double Fantasy" thought to have been given to him by the agent Willie McKay, has aroused some suspicion. Redknapp told the inquiry that it was possible that he did own the horse but insisted that he had not made any money out of it because the horse was a failure and never won a race.
1. FA to meet Newell over bung claim
2. Newell optimistic following talks
3. Holloway cynical about FA action
4. Agents claim manager was bribed
5. Time to make a ruling that tapping up be made legal
6. http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=418332&CPID=8&clid=30&lid=3&title=Bolton+in+fresh+transfer+probe
7. Ex-police chief leads bungs probe
8. FA Statement re allegations
9. Allardyce denies Panorama claims
10. Big Sam: it's painful
11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5378842.stm
12. Bond to sue BBC over bung claims
13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/5378844.stm
14. http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2006440549,00.html
15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5363048.stm
16. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5363048.stm
17. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6192665.stm
18. What Stevens said about each club
19. Stevens puts spotlight on the agents
20. http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=980622007
| Contents |
| Allegations |
| January - Managers |
| September - BBC Panorama |
| September - Telegraph Sport |
| Reaction |
| Stevens report |
| References |
Allegations
January - Managers
In January 2006, Luton Town manager Mike Newell and then-manager of Queens Park Rangers Ian Holloway alleged that backhanders (bribes) were rife in the sport [1]
[2]
[3]
The Football Association subsequently held talks with the two managers and established an enquiry.
September - BBC Panorama
On 19 September, 2006 the BBC current affairs television programme Panorama broadcast a special investigation into corruption in English football which had begun filming in August 2005.
''"Undercover: Football's Dirty Secrets"'' included footage shown of meetings between agents, managers and high ranking football club officials, filmed undercover by Knut auf dem Berge, a freelance coach posing as a prospective football agent. This footage purported to show agents and managers accepting backhanders and illegally "tapping-up" players under contract to other clubs.
These allegations included:
★ That Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce, and his agent son Craig were alleged to have accepted "bungs" (bribes) from agents for signing certain players. Two agents, Teni Yerima and Peter Harrison, were secretly filmed, each separately claiming that they had paid Allardyce through his son. Allardyce denies ever taking, or asking for, a bung.[4] The programme was aired on the same night that Bolton beat Walsall 3-1 in the Carling Cup, so Allardyce missed the original showing
★ Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is secretly filmed discussing the possibility of buying the Blackburn Rovers captain Andy Todd with agent Peter Harrison, which is illegal under FA rules. However, the programme merely showed Harrison approaching Redknapp and asking direct questions which Redknapp answered.
★ Then Portsmouth first-team coach Kevin Bond, first team coach of Newcastle United when the programme was aired, is secretly recorded admitting he would consider discussing receiving payments from a proposed new agency involving agent Peter Harrison. This was the programme's description; it did not seem explicit from the extract broadcast. Bond was suspended and then sacked by Newcastle as a result of the allegations.
★ Chelsea director of youth football Frank Arnesen is secretly filmed making an illegal approach or "tapping up" Middlesbrough's England youth star 15-year-old Nathan Porritt. Arnesen offers a fee of £150,000 spread over three years as an incentive to move, although he had been advised that it was 99.9% certain that Porritt would leave Middlesbrough. Both of these allegations are illegal under FA rules. Officials from Liverpool and Newcastle United were also implicated in attempts to sign Porritt.[5]
★ Agent Peter Harrison told the undercover reporter that, to secure transfer deals with Bolton, he bribed Sam Allardyce by offering to pay his son Craig. Harrison is a FIFA-listed agent, who is based in the north-east of England.
★ That three different Bolton transfer signings involved secret payments from agents to Craig Allardyce, some when he was contractually banned from doing any Bolton deals. Panorama alleged Bolton's transfer signings of defender Tal Ben Haim, midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata and goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi involved secret payments from agents to Craig Allardyce. Allardyce's son quit the agency business in summer 2006, and has admitted in newspaper interviews that his working as an agent might have cost his father the chance of becoming England manager.
★ Agent Charles Collymore, is secretly filmed in the Panorama film, saying: ''"There's managers out there who take bungs all day long. I would say to you comfortably there's six to eight managers we could definitely approach and they'd be up for this no problem."'' Later, Collymore is named publicly for the first time by Luton Town manager Mike Newell as the agent who offered him an illegal payment. Collymore also represents England cricketer Simon Jones.
The programme also claimed to have set up a 'sting' involving handing a cash payment to an unnamed Premiership manager, but the alleged manager did not turn up at the rendezvous. The programme claimed that he had been scared off by Mike Newell's claims being revealed that same day.
September - Telegraph Sport
On 26 September, the Telegraph alleged that an unlicensed agent was paid in the deal to bring Tal Ben Haim to Bolton Wanderers. When the Israeli international moved to England, agent Jamie Hart - the official middle man - was paid a fee by Bolton. But he has now confirmed that unlicensed agent David Abu also received a cut of the fee for the role he played in the deal. Allardyce's son, Craig, a key protagonist in the Panorama documentary, also received a payment but when quizzed on such payments Bolton Chairman Phil Gartside confirmed he had no such knowledge [6]
Reaction
On 3 March, 2006, The Football Association established an enquiry to be headed by Lord Stevens, former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and former head of an enquiry into corruption in cricket [7]. The initial findings of Stevens' report were announced in December 2006.
On 20 September, The Football Association asked the BBC to provide all of the collected evidence and announced that it would investigate these allegations. It was to investigate allegations of illegal approaches involving Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, along with allegations "relating to players' agents and connected activities" involving Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce, son Craig Allardyce, Newcastle United assistant manager Kevin Bond, and agents Charles Collymore and Peter Harrison [8].
All of those accused of impropriety have denied all allegations arising from the programme, including:
★ 'Sam Allardyce:' placed the matter in the hands of his lawyers [9]. He also confessed: ''“As a father it is painful to watch your son talk tall and exaggerate his influence for financial gain.”'' [10] On 25 September he announced that after lengthy discussions his lawyers had advised that ''"I have a very strong case in relation to the programme, and I am planning to sue the BBC over the false and highly damaging allegations. I have therefore instructed my lawyers to prepare my case against the BBC."'' Allardyce added that he would discuss the matter with Bolton chairman, Phil Gartside, as well as his wife before he took any final decision [11].
★ 'Kevin Bond:' intends to sue the BBC for libel [12]. Newcastle United placed him on gardening leave following the broadcast, and terminated his contract on 26 September. In response, Bond issued a statement claiming that Newcastle had sacked him without investigating properly [13] [14]. Bond was employed again within a month, as manager of AFC Bournemouth.
The League Managers Association has demanded hard evidence: ''"As the organisation which represents managers we were very disappointed with the programme. There was a complete lack of substance and evidence, and if the BBC has any hard evidence it should give it to the Football Association."'' [15] HM Revenue & Customs has also indicated it will look into the claims [15]
Stevens report
It was announced on October 2 2006, that Lord Stevens' inquiry into football corruption, conducted with Quest Ltd, has been extended by two months to investigate 39 transfers involving eight clubs. On 20 December 2006, Stevens presented his preliminary report, which found that the level of corruption within English football was not a high as had been anticipated, there were several causes for concern[17]. 17 transfer deals were still subject to further scrutiny.
On 15 June 2007, Lord Stevens' inquiry issued its final report which raised concerns over issues involving 17 player transfers, involving five clubs, three managers and numerous agents and other third parties. In summary, the report stated: ''“there is no evidence of any irregular payments to club officials or players, and they are identified only as a consequence of the outstanding issues the inquiry has with the agents involved”.''[18].
Details of one of the suspect transfer deals was withheld. The other transfers about which there are unresolved issues are:
===Bolton Wanderers===
★ Ali Al-Habsi (Free transfer from Lyn Oslo - 7 January 2006)
★ Tal Ben Haim (Free transfer from Maccabi - 29 July 2004)
★ Blessing Kaku (Free transfer from F.C. Ashdod - 24 August 2004)
★ Julio Correia (Free transfer from Real Valladolid - 25 July 2004)
There were also unanswered concerns regarding the involvement of Craig Allardyce in a number of transactions. ''“The inquiry remains concerned at the conflict of interest that it believes existed between Craig Allardyce, his father Sam Allardyce - the then manager at Bolton - and the club itself.”''
===Chelsea===
★ Didier Drogba (£24 million from Marseille - 20 July 2004)
★ Petr Čech (£7 million from Rennes - 1 June 2004)
★ Michael Essien (£24.4 million from Lyon - 19 August 2005)
''“Agent Pinhas Zahavi has failed to co-operate fully with the inquiry . There was an initial failure to disclose his involvement in a number of transfers but, more seriously, he has failed to provide the inquiry with complete bank statements due to the confidential nature of them. There has also been a lack of responsiveness by Zahavi. There remains questions relating to his relationship with, and payments to, licensed agent Barry Silkman, and with Silkman's failure to initially disclose his involvement in all the transactions in which he has received fees.”''
===Middlesbrough===
★ Fabio Rochemback (Free transfer from Sporting Lisbon - 31 August 2005)
★ Yakubu Aiyegbeni (£7.5 million from Portsmouth - 4 July 2005)
The statement relating to Zahavi and Silkman above also relates to the two Middlesbrough transfers.
===Newcastle United===
★ Albert Luque (£8.5 million from Deportivo La Coruña – 26 August 2005)
★ Emre Belözoğlu (£3.8 million from Inter Milan – 14 July 2005)
★ Jean-Alain Boumsong (£8 million from Rangers – 1 January 2005)
★ Amdy Faye (£2 million from Portsmouth – 25 January 2005)
''“There remains inconsistencies in evidence provided by Graeme Souness — a former manager of the club — and Kenneth Shepherd”'' (son of the Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd) ''“— apparently acting in an undefined role but not as a club official — as to their respective roles in transfer negotiations.”''
''“The inquiry has been unable to obtain the co-operation of the agent Ahmet Bulut”'' in connection with the Emre transfer.
''“The inquiry is still awaiting clarification from agent Willie McKay”'' in connection with the Boumsong and Faye transfers.
In relation to the Luque transfer: ''“The inquiry still has unanswered questions relating to possible payments made by agent Francis Martin, who Newcastle officials believed was working for the selling club.”''
Souness issued a statement denying any wrong-doing: ''"I cannot understand why my name features in this report. I volunteered full information to Quest as a witness and I have heard nothing further from them."''[19]
The Stevens enquiry then issued a clarification: "We wish to make it clear that inconsistencies did not exist within the evidence given by Graeme Souness to Quest concerning his role in transfers covered by the Inquiry during his time as manager of Newcastle United FC and neither the Premier League nor do Quest have any concerns in this regard"[20].
===Portsmouth===
★ Collins Mbesuma (Free transfer from Kaizer Chiefs – 1 August 2005)
★ Benjani Mwaruwari (£4.1 million from Auxerre – 6 January 2006)
★ Aliou Cissé (£300,000 from Birmingham City – 6 August 2004)
''“Agent Willie McKay acted for the selling club, Auxerre, in the transfer of Benjani and for Portsmouth in the transfer of Cisse and, for the same reason as above”'' {still awaiting clarification) ''“the inquiry is not prepared to clear these transfers at this stage.”''
''“In relation to Benjani’s transfer, the inquiry also has identified concerns regarding the role of (agent) Teni Yerima and (third party) Ralph N’Komo.”''
With regard to manager Harry Redknapp, his ownership of a racehorse named "Double Fantasy" thought to have been given to him by the agent Willie McKay, has aroused some suspicion. Redknapp told the inquiry that it was possible that he did own the horse but insisted that he had not made any money out of it because the horse was a failure and never won a race.
References
1. FA to meet Newell over bung claim
2. Newell optimistic following talks
3. Holloway cynical about FA action
4. Agents claim manager was bribed
5. Time to make a ruling that tapping up be made legal
6. http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=418332&CPID=8&clid=30&lid=3&title=Bolton+in+fresh+transfer+probe
7. Ex-police chief leads bungs probe
8. FA Statement re allegations
9. Allardyce denies Panorama claims
10. Big Sam: it's painful
11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5378842.stm
12. Bond to sue BBC over bung claims
13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/5378844.stm
14. http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2006440549,00.html
15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5363048.stm
16. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5363048.stm
17. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6192665.stm
18. What Stevens said about each club
19. Stevens puts spotlight on the agents
20. http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=980622007
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