Another extension for Stevens bung inquiry

The Quest team was given another extension to complete its "bungs" inquiry, which was originally investigating 38 suspicious transfer deals. Lord Stevens told the Premier League board that there was suspicion of illegal behavior in a number of transfer deals but the number has dropped from the initial 38.

Quest has not been able to determine all the transfers were legal and Stevens cannot prove all were tainted.

Stevens gave his latest findings to the Premier League's board, which consists of chairman Sir Dave Richards, chief executive Richard Scudamore, and secretary Mike Foster. The board will review the report before a public statement is made but it is known that there will be no naming of the clubs still under suspicion.

The board does not want to reveal the clubs that Quest has found guilty until the authorities are in a position to prosecute. Quest has been disturbed by the refusal of certain agents to open their books voluntarily but it is felt it will have more power to probe the bank accounts of agents, and if the paper trail requires it, perhaps the managers. This will call for a formal investigation on an extraordinary scale in the 10-month history of the inquiry.

Two months ago, Stevens, the former Metropolitan Police commissioner, said that 85 of the 150 agents his team had approached for support in the inquiries would not co-operate.

The FA's compliance department can bring charges against anybody who refuses to co-operate in the investigation.

Once Quest's final report is delivered, the FA and the Premier League will discuss how to proceed.

It is expected that the agents who do not co-operate will be assumed to be guilty and will be charged for improper conduct. Agents that continue to refuse to produce the required documentation will be given a warning, a fine, or suspension and possibly having their licence revoked.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.