The row over the transfer of Peter Crouch to Tottenham Hotspur has highlighted the murky side of the game that operates behind the scenes of football transfers. Fulham are taking Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards to the High Court believing that he played an integral part in Peter Crouch moving to White Hart Lane rather than Craven Cottage. Fulham have claimed Crouch was on the verge of an £11 million move to them from Portsmouth before he made a £9 million transfer to Spurs instead. Fulham claim the crucial factor that made Crouch opt for Spurs was the intervention of Sir Dave Richards at the behest of Portsmouth. It has been alleged that Portsmouth’s then chief executive Peter Storrie asked Richards to intervene in the transfer to help with the club’s crippling financial battles. Although Fulham had offered £2 million more for the England striker, Portsmouth allegedly wanted a one off up-front lump sum in order to help them avoid administration, something that Spurs £9 million bid offered. It is a fact that Richards did indeed speak to Peter Crouch, but whether he acted improperly or not is not yet fully clear. The Premier League did have an inquiry into the affair which concluded that Richards had not acted inappropriately, but Fulham have not accepted this verdict. Fulham are now pushing for Sir Dave Richards to be removed from his position as chairman of the Premier League, and at the least want him banned from any future involvement in player transfers.
The saga has succeeded in once again plumbing the gloomy depths of player transfers and all that goes with it, be it agent’s fees or tappings ups. Perhaps the most notable example of the tapping up of a player was Ashley Cole’s clandestine meeting with Jose Mourinho, which caused a huge amount of controversy and a bitter feud between Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho that many fans think the game could do without. In the Cole-gate incident fines were dished out, but when players, managers and clubs earn such vast amounts of money these fines are often immaterial. If Fulham get their wish and Sir Dave Richards loses his job for the unethical actions they allege he perpetrated, then it might send out a message to all those involved in transfers that such activity will not be tolerated, and will be met by more than just a fine that amounts to a drop in the ocean. In past years issues surrounding agent’s bungs and third party player ownership have also brought football into disrepute.
Another prime example of this side of the game was Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano’s unlikely stint at West Ham United. The Premier League fined West Ham over Tevez’ contract being in breach of the rules after issues with Media Sports Investments’ third-party ownership of the player. Sheffield United and Neil Warnock were livid with the decision, believing that West Ham should have been deducted points which would have relegated the London club. The issue over third party ownership has reared its head again this summer with regards to Brazilian midfielder Ramires’ proposed move to Chelsea. It is believed that ‘Super-Agents’ Kia Joorabchian and Pini Zahavi own certain percentages of the players rights which would mean the rumoured move to Chelsea would not be able to go ahead. These issues crop up time and again in football, and it often leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Football needs to try and eradicate these malpractices in order to clean up its image and maintain the integrity of the game; but it will take firmer action than fines to help achieve this.
If you liked this article please follow me on Twitter.
Subscribe to my RSS feed.