England boss Sam Allardyce 'filmed giving advice on getting around FA rules'
England manager Sam Allardyce has been filmed appearing to advise businessmen on how to sidestep an outlawed player transfer practice, as part of a newspaper investigation.
In an undercover operation by the Daily Telegraph, Allardyce met people who he thought were representatives of a Far East firm following his appointment to one of English football's most coveted roles.
TOP STORY: England boss Sam Allardyce under investigation by The FA after sting in the Telegraph newspaper. #SSNHQ https://t.co/fzmfuPDeWv
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 26, 2016
He was captured appearing to tell reporters that it was "not a problem" getting around FA rules that stop third parties "owning" football players' economic rights.
The controversial practice was banned by the FA - Allardyce's employers - in 2008 over concerns it compromised the integrity of the game, as the third party could profit whenever a player was sold.
When asked about the rules, Allardyce was filmed on a hidden camera saying: "It's not a problem."
He added an unnamed group had been "doing it for years" and "you can still get around it", suggesting they employ the player's agents to compensate for the fact they are no longer allowed to profit from each transfer directly.
He added: "You get a percentage of the player's agent's fee that the agent pays to you, the company, because he's done that new deal at the club again or they sell him on, and you're not getting a part of the transfer fee any more, because you can't do that.
"But, you get - because of the size of the contracts now, the contract will be worth thirty, forty million, at 10% and you've done a deal with the agent where you're getting 5% of the agent's fee, which is massive for doing about two hours' work."
It is alleged by the paper that a deal was struck with the England manager worth £400,000.
The FA has so far declined to comment on the allegations.
Allardyce left his home in Bolton, Greater Manchester, shortly before 7am on Tuesday.
He came out of the side of his detached home and swiftly got into his black Mercedes car which was parked on his front drive.
Wearing a suit, and a shirt unbuttoned to the navel, he then drove off without comment.
