League responds to Eriksson comments in 'tapping' row
The Premier League have responded to Sven-Goran Eriksson defending the rights of players to talk to other clubs following the inquiry into allegations Arsenal defender Ashley Cole had a secret meeting with Chelsea.
The England boss declared “we live in a democracy not a dictatorship” and told Cole to concentrate on the friendly against Holland tonight.
However a Premier League spokesman told the Daily Mail: “A professional footballer under contract does not have the right to speak to another club without the permission of his current employer.
“The Premier League rules are clear on that. There is an ongoing inquiry into this matter and if it is proven that the rules have been broken then the guilty parties are liable to be punished.”
It is alleged Cole met Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and chief executive Peter Kenyon in a London hotel.
Eriksson avoided any direct comment on Cole’s situation, although he believes players are entitled to listen to offers from other clubs, just as he did when he met Kenyon last March while still under contract with England.
“I don’t think that I should have too many comments. That is something between Arsenal, Chelsea and Ashley Cole – wrong or not wrong,” he insisted.
When pressed on the general issue, he added: “As a professional footballer, it must be your right to listen if some other work is available. It is the same in other professions.
“We do not live in a dictatorship, we live in a democracy. Loyalty is important but contracts end and that is life in football.”
