Two-year Times investigation by found that FA took no action after parties involved in striker’s transfer from Tottenham to Portsmouth dealt with an unlicensed agent
The FA is investigating serious breaches of agent rules in the transfer of Jermain Defoe involving Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, and unlicensed agents.
The private hearing in 2008 revealed that Defoe, Tottenham’s chairman Daniel Levy, and Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp dealt with an unlicensed agent, Mitchell Thomas.
Despite breaches, no disciplinary action was initially taken, in contrast to other cases where clubs faced point deductions for breaking agent regulations.
Mitchell Thomas, an unlicensed agent, played a central role in the transfer, and Daniel Levy enlisted licensed agent Stuart Peters, though a formal representation contract was not evident.
The FA regulations prohibited the use of unlicensed players’ agents and required a written representation contract between agents and players or clubs.
Failure to comply with these regulations could result in severe sanctions, including transfer bans, points deduction, or relegation for clubs, and warnings, fines, or bans for agents and players.
A panel, including Cherie Booth, found in 2010 that Thomas was involved in Defoe’s move, leading to compensation to Defoe’s former agent, Sky Andrew.
Despite these findings, no disciplinary action was initially taken, but the FA is now reopening the case, aiming to obtain the panel’s verdict and any additional evidence.
The FA plans to review the arbitration panel award and may interview former staff to understand events in 2010.
David Lampitt, head of financial regulation at the time, left in 2010 and is now the chief executive of a tennis data organization.
All I can think about is how Sam Allardyce lost the England job because he exposed how transfers are really done behind the scenes and the FA didn’t like it. If we go back through every Premier League club’s transfers since 2008 and really break it down, you’re going to find over half of them broke the rules or found loopholes at least one time.
All I can think about is how Sam Allardyce lost the England job because he exposed how transfers are really done behind the scenes and the FA didn’t like it. If we go back through every Premier League club’s transfers since 2008 and really break it down, you’re going to find over half of them broke the rules or found loopholes at least one time.