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FA and BBC to meet over Panorama evidence
England - 26 September, 2006
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The BBC and Football Association officials were scheduled to meet Monday on transferring the evidence that led to BBC airing the Panorama programme.
An undercover show on Panorama last week featured allegations of bungs being paid to managers and illegal approaches by clubs to players.
The FA wants to see the evidence as part of its joint investigation with the Premier League. After not receiving the desired cooperation Friday, the FA put in a formal request with the BBC for the information.
On Wednesday, the day after the documentary was shown, the FA had asked the BBC to provide evidence "as a matter of urgency."
Under investigation by the FA and Premier League are Chelsea official Frank Arnesen, Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, and clubs Liverpool and Newcastle.
The FA also plan to look into allegations made against Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, his son Craig Allardyce, and Redknapp's assistant at the time of the filming, Kevin Bond. Agents Charles Collymore and Peter Harrison also have been targeted.
Another agent, Teni Yerima, is licensed in France, so the FA will pass any information about him to FIFA or the French FA.
The senior Allardyce was at the centre of the programme, with Yerima and Harrison claiming they paid him bungs.
Allardyce denies ever having taken or asked for a bung and says he has told his lawyers to "take the appropriate action". Bolton say they will carry out a "thorough and robust investigation" into the claims.
Harrison also described offering to pay money to Allardyce's son Craig, who Panorama claims received secret payments from agents during three transfer deals.
Craig Allardyce said he was exaggerating his importance to the undercover reporter. He denied any wrongdoing.
Harrison, filmed making claims about paying managers, now says that was just pub gossip and banter and said he will sue the BBC.
Redknapp was filmed talking about Blackburn defender Andy Todd, but denies his conversation amounted to tapping up.
Bond was secretly recorded admitting he would consider discussing receiving payments from a proposed new agency involving Harrison. Redknapp told the BBC that he has never taken a bung and had given Bond no reason to think otherwise, while Bond says he is not interested in receiving bungs. Bond also announced plans to sue the BBC.
The documentary also showed Chelsea's director of youth football, Frank Arnesen, and officials from Liverpool, discussing their interest in signing Middlesbrough youth star Nathan Porritt. Newcastle was implicated in the programme.
Chelsea and Liverpool both deny breaking Football Association rules. Liverpool said it has taken legal advice.
The FA also wants to contact Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston, after he claimed to have been offered bribes, and leading agent Jon Holmes who said managers had asked him for bungs.
An undercover show on Panorama last week featured allegations of bungs being paid to managers and illegal approaches by clubs to players.
The FA wants to see the evidence as part of its joint investigation with the Premier League. After not receiving the desired cooperation Friday, the FA put in a formal request with the BBC for the information.
On Wednesday, the day after the documentary was shown, the FA had asked the BBC to provide evidence "as a matter of urgency."
Under investigation by the FA and Premier League are Chelsea official Frank Arnesen, Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, and clubs Liverpool and Newcastle.
The FA also plan to look into allegations made against Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, his son Craig Allardyce, and Redknapp's assistant at the time of the filming, Kevin Bond. Agents Charles Collymore and Peter Harrison also have been targeted.
Another agent, Teni Yerima, is licensed in France, so the FA will pass any information about him to FIFA or the French FA.
The senior Allardyce was at the centre of the programme, with Yerima and Harrison claiming they paid him bungs.
Allardyce denies ever having taken or asked for a bung and says he has told his lawyers to "take the appropriate action". Bolton say they will carry out a "thorough and robust investigation" into the claims.
Harrison also described offering to pay money to Allardyce's son Craig, who Panorama claims received secret payments from agents during three transfer deals.
Craig Allardyce said he was exaggerating his importance to the undercover reporter. He denied any wrongdoing.
Harrison, filmed making claims about paying managers, now says that was just pub gossip and banter and said he will sue the BBC.
Redknapp was filmed talking about Blackburn defender Andy Todd, but denies his conversation amounted to tapping up.
Bond was secretly recorded admitting he would consider discussing receiving payments from a proposed new agency involving Harrison. Redknapp told the BBC that he has never taken a bung and had given Bond no reason to think otherwise, while Bond says he is not interested in receiving bungs. Bond also announced plans to sue the BBC.
The documentary also showed Chelsea's director of youth football, Frank Arnesen, and officials from Liverpool, discussing their interest in signing Middlesbrough youth star Nathan Porritt. Newcastle was implicated in the programme.
Chelsea and Liverpool both deny breaking Football Association rules. Liverpool said it has taken legal advice.
The FA also wants to contact Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston, after he claimed to have been offered bribes, and leading agent Jon Holmes who said managers had asked him for bungs.
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