Stevens Names Illegal Premiership Transfers

Lord Stevens, the man leading the investigation into alleged illegal payments in
FA Premier League transfers, has named seventeen transfers involving five clubs
as having breached regulations.

The five clubs found to have been in breach of the league’s rules on transfer
payments are Chelsea, Newcastle, Bolton, Portsmouth and Middlesbrough.

The Football Association will now decide how to move forward in terms of
punishment for these clubs although it is thought that Newcastle and Bolton are
viewed as the most serious offenders.

Releasing the exact details of his inquiry Stevens has also expressed concern
about conflicts of interest between 15 agents and two managers, namely Sam
Allardyce and Graeme Souness.

Of the 17 transfers, four relate to Newcastle signings (Emre Belozoglu, Jean
Alain Boumsong, Amady Faye, Albert Luque), four to Bolton (Ali Al-Habsi, Tal Ben
Haim, Blessing Kaku, Julio Correia), three to Chelsea (Didier Drogba, Petr Cech,
Michael Essien), three to Portsmouth (Collins Mbesuma, Benjani Mwaruwari, Aliou
Cisse) and two to Middlesbrough (Aiyegbeni Yakubu and Fabio Rochemback) while
one transfer has not been disclosed.

Lord Stevens said in a statement: ‘Many lessons have been learned and strict
adherence to and enforcement of the recommendations should ensure that the game
and the transfer market can proceed in an untainted and transparent manner.’

An FA spokesman said: ‘Following the final report of the Premier League’s
Quest Inquiry, the FA will give full consideration to its contents and the
documentation that is due to be passed on by the Premier League and Quest.

‘The FA has provided full co-operation and support to the Premier League and
Quest and will now go through their information as part of our governance and
regulation process. This will determine what action is required.’