Post by Salem6 on Sept 21, 2006 22:14:21 GMT
By PA Sport Staff
www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/09/21/SOCCER_Panorama_Reaction.html
Tighter regulations governing player transfers could be brought into place by both the Football Association and UEFA in the wake of allegations over illegal payments to managers and agents.
The BBC Panorama programme 'Undercover: Football's Dirty Secrets' claimed Bolton boss Sam Allardyce and his son Craig, until recently a football agent, were given illegal payments to facilitate player transfers.
All parties accused in the programme have stated their innocence.
The Football Association have asked the BBC to hand over all of the information Panorama obtained during their investigation "as a matter of urgency", as chief executive Brian Barwick announced a formal probe would be launched.
Bolton have also started a 'thorough and robust investigation' into the allegations made, which Allardyce has vigorously denied as "lies".
UEFA are concerned by the wider issues involved, not just those raised in England this week.
Chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson said: "We have reports from different clubs and leagues and associations, and even governments, to say that agents are a growing problem in the way they are making money.
"We have started, together with clubs and leagues, to change the rules and regulations and this can only be achieved if we are working closely with politicians and the sport's governing body."
World governing body FIFA, meanwhile, maintain the matter must first be addressed by the English FA.
A FIFA spokesman said: "From what we understand, it will be followed up by the Football Association and is not yet a case for FIFA.
"Depending on what is found, it may have a part in the task force for the game and the financial working group."
Football agent Jon Smith - who set up the First Artist company - has called for new regulations from the FA to avoid any allegations of transfer bungs to managers in the future.
He said: "The big issue from the programme is a lack of regulation.
"The FA's regulations do not work and are not enforced properly, and no-one gives a damn about them. In fact, we don't think they are legal.
"Until they get real and get proper departments to deal with this then there will always be allegations."
The BBC programme claimed it would uncover "disturbing evidence of serious wrongdoing in the Premiership" before the screening.
However, the League Managers' Association felt the investigation did not live up to expectations.
A statement from the LAM read: "As the organisation which represents professional football managers in this country, we were very disappointed with the BBC Panorama programme.
"There was a complete lack of substance and evidence to the pre-programme assertions and claims which were being made.
"If the BBC has any hard evidence, then it should hand that evidence to the Football Association and Lord Stevens.
"All our members are fully aware of their responsibilities and of the need to act professionally and with the utmost integrity at all times.
"There has been considerable debate about the transparency of the football transfer system and the role of agents both in this country and abroad.
"The LAM supports any full and thorough investigation into these issues and welcomes the publication of the Lord Stevens report in the near future.
"If there is any evidence of financial misconduct within football then let it be brought out into the open and the guilty parties treated accordingly."
Other agents were also critical of the expose.
Barry Silkman, who represents the likes of Middlesbrough and Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, said: "All that happened was two people talking together like idiots.
"I have never had a manager offer so much as a cup of coffee.
"The bottom line is that nobody apart from the individual knows. I only know my own experience and I've never come across a manager who has asked for anything."
Meanwhile, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association Gordon Taylor has called for a strict clampdown on the practice of agents "hawking" teenage players around different clubs.
Taylor was speaking after Panorama's investigation showed Middlesbrough teenager Nathan Porritt being offered to Chelsea and Liverpool by agent Peter Harrison.
Harrison also told an undercover reporter that Newcastle had met the player without Middlesbrough's knowledge.
Middlesbrough last night confirmed they would make an official complaint to the Football Association and Premier League about Harrison.
Taylor said: "The game must also deal with the serious social problem of agents hawking young players around nationally and internationally at increasingly younger ages.
"It needs to be strictly controlled by the authorities."
Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle may escape disciplinary action from the Premier League but they could still face charges from the FA over Panorama's allegations.
The trio will be investigated by a joint FA/Premier League probe but because Middlesbrough are not expected to make a formal complaint about the clubs, penalties for any breach of Premier League regulations are unlikely.
As it is a joint investigation, however, the FA could take action unilaterally even if Middlesbrough do not make a complaint about the clubs.
Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb confirmed the club were upset by Harrison, and said: "We will be making a formal complaint to the Football Association and the Premier League about the actions of Peter Harrison, who we believe has not acted in the best interests of his client and has certainly not had any regard for Middlesbrough Football Club.
"That is totally unacceptable to us and we have no option but to lodge a formal complaint."
But Boro chairman Steve Gibson played down Chelsea and Liverpool's alleged wrongdoing.
He told BBC Radio Five Live: "Many discussions go on between clubs and agents and I saw nothing unusual about the discussions with the agent and Chelsea and the agent and Liverpool. When I say unusual I'm looking from the Chelsea and Liverpool side.
"I didn't see any great wrongdoing from those clubs.
"I am very disappointed with the action of that agent (Harrison). I think football will deal with him and I hope they deal with him harshly."
It is understood Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is unlikely to face any action from the Premier League over his appearance in the programme when he was filmed talking to an agent about Blackburn defender Andy Todd.