FA will consider United transfer evidence
The Football Association will look at any evidence of impropriety in transfer dealings concerning Manchester United if it is passed on to them.
A report today claimed John Magnier and JP McManus, United’s largest shareholders, have questioned the amount of money paid to agents by the club during transfers.
This follows numerous reports probing the handling of recent signings Tim Howard and Kleberson.
There have been claims that unlicensed agents have been involved and the role of manager Alex Ferguson has also been questioned.
FA spokesman Nick Barron said: “Whenever we are handed evidence we will look into it but we stress this would not necessarily lead to an investigation.”
The Sunday Times claims that the concerns of Magnier and McManus were detailed in letters sent to chairman Sir Roy Gardner.
It quotes one letter as saying: “What we cannot understand is the necessity for the relative secrecy in which agents conduct their role and the astonishing fees which have been charged to the company.”
United, however, have dismissed any fears of wrong-doing involving agents.
A club statement said: “All transfer negotiations are conducted by the executive directors of the club with legal advisers. In common with all football clubs, we often work with FIFA-registered agents.
“Any fees to agents are disclosed to the Premier League and, with effect from the current transfer window, to the Stock Exchange.”
Transfers are monitored by the FA and the Premier League and payments made to agents are not kept secret. It is, however, up to the clubs involved whether details are disclosed or not.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore believes United chief executive David Gill’s decision to disclose more details about the signing of Louis Saha this week was a good move.
Scudamore told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme: “The reality is we record, as do the FA, all transfer dealings and we know exactly who the money goes to in the first instance. We have always gone on record as saying this, that it’s very difficult to get involved after that.
“Actually the right way of managing it in some ways is for shareholders to question and challenge what is happening to funds.
“I think David Gill has made a major step forward this week in the Saha deal in actually telling everybody exactly who got what for that deal.
“That’s a step forward and then if the shareholders wish to challenge the executives responsible for doing that it is exactly what should happen.
“Any evidence we get we take a look at, we make sure it is being done appropriately. That’s not to say we have any view as to the right and wrong amounts of money involved in transactions.”
