Portsmouth Threaten To Sue League

Portsmouth Football Club have threatened to sue the Premier League in a bid to get the club’s transfer embargo lifted.

The Premier League has banned the club from operating in the transfer market and has redistributed the club’s £7m share of TV income to the club’s debtors.

The club, which is also facing a winding-up order from HM Revenue & Customs, was thought to owe £10m to clubs overall meaning they still have to repay £3m in outstanding transfer fees.

But Portsmouth, who are £60m in debt overall, say they are up to date with debts to domestic clubs and believe that the Premier League had no right to give money to foreign clubs. Therefore, they also want the £2m that is being withheld from their TV rights by the Premier League.

‘I can confirm we have issued a legal letter to the Premier League to demand that the transfer embargo should be lifted’ said Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie.

But Premier League chief Richard Scudamore has said that the embargo would remain until it was ‘absolutely nailed down, absolutely clear, absolutely concise’ that the club has repaid its debts.

Scudamore added that if the club take legal action they would be suing themselves, ‘The whole notion of suing the Premier League is interesting because you’re suing yourself as a club, and the other 19 clubs (in the league)’.

Portsmouth has failed to pay their staff and players on time in recent months due to the financial strains at the club.