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Agents obstruct Stevens investigation
England - 12 December, 2006
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Lord Stevens is claiming obstruction by agents in his search for bungs in the English Premier League.
Stevens said certain renegade agents refused to let him see their bank account details, and will be named in a report to the Premier League this week. Chairman Dave Richards and chief executive Richard Scudamore could then lean on the Football Association to suspend or ban uncooperative agents. The FA is expected to agree.
The recently-formed Association of Football Agents, which represents scores of England's 289 FIFA-registered agents, urged its members to give Stevens full disclosure. Some agents not in the trade body have refused Stevens access to their bank details "on principle."
Stevens has completed the second phase of his nine-month probe into possible irregularities for 362 transfers between January 2004 and January 2006. He listed 39 deals involving eight clubs that merited scrutiny for possible bribes. He said he has been unable to clear those deals because of the 'rogue' agents.
It is likely Stevens and his team of investigators have lowered the suspect number of transfers from 39 to possibly to single figures.
The inquiry began in March and has so far cost about GBP 800,000. Stevens and Scudamore are likely to hold a media briefing in the week leading up to Christmas.
Stevens' recommendations likely will fall along the lines that all fees paid to agents involved in all future transfer deals be made public. As of now, only Manchester United does so, though Chelsea is in favour of it.
Stevens might also want a clearing-house established to vet the integrity of all transfer deals involving buying or selling talent either domestically or overseas. Stevens' Quest team has been linked with this new role.
He may also ask that paperwork be streamlined.
Stevens said certain renegade agents refused to let him see their bank account details, and will be named in a report to the Premier League this week. Chairman Dave Richards and chief executive Richard Scudamore could then lean on the Football Association to suspend or ban uncooperative agents. The FA is expected to agree.
The recently-formed Association of Football Agents, which represents scores of England's 289 FIFA-registered agents, urged its members to give Stevens full disclosure. Some agents not in the trade body have refused Stevens access to their bank details "on principle."
Stevens has completed the second phase of his nine-month probe into possible irregularities for 362 transfers between January 2004 and January 2006. He listed 39 deals involving eight clubs that merited scrutiny for possible bribes. He said he has been unable to clear those deals because of the 'rogue' agents.
It is likely Stevens and his team of investigators have lowered the suspect number of transfers from 39 to possibly to single figures.
The inquiry began in March and has so far cost about GBP 800,000. Stevens and Scudamore are likely to hold a media briefing in the week leading up to Christmas.
Stevens' recommendations likely will fall along the lines that all fees paid to agents involved in all future transfer deals be made public. As of now, only Manchester United does so, though Chelsea is in favour of it.
Stevens might also want a clearing-house established to vet the integrity of all transfer deals involving buying or selling talent either domestically or overseas. Stevens' Quest team has been linked with this new role.
He may also ask that paperwork be streamlined.
Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 -
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