A sick joke, surely

[TheWestwayWonder]

Premier League - Chelsea 'face points deduction' over SWP

Chelsea could face a points deduction over transfer dealings with an unlicensed agent, according to a report.

The Guardian newspaper claims the FA is considering whether to bring sanctions against the Premier League title chasers following their £21 million swoop for Shaun Wright-Phillips from Manchester City in 2005.

It is alleged that Mitchell Thomas, the former Tottenham and Luton player and an unlicensed agent, was involved in negotiating the deal.

If the FA finds that to have been the case, both Chelsea and the England winger face penalties which could range from fines to a points deduction.

Chelsea are currently two points behind leaders Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title, but with a game in hand.

The case is the 17th to be investigated by Quest, the task force hired by the Premier League to investigate alleged bungs during five transfer windows between 2004 and 2006.

All 16 other deals have been cleared.

The investigation into the transfer of Wright-Phillips comes after the outcome of a case brought by the Law Society against a solicitor, Timothy Drukker, who was involved in the deal but paid Thomas part of the £1.2m Chelsea paid him.

An FA spokesman told the Guardian: "We are aware of the outcome of these proceedings and are considering what action, if any, may be appropriate in relation to football rules."

Chelsea and Wright-Phillips have both denied Thomas was involved, claiming that Drukker was the sole negotiator in the deal.

"We believe we acted appropriately at all times," a Chelsea spokesman told the Guardian.

Wright-Phillips's time with Chelsea lasted three years before a fall down the pecking order resulted in a return to City for a fee thought to be in the region of £8.5m.

Wow. Justice must move like molasses in the world of football. Otherwise, how else could it be that two transfer dealings from over 3 years ago are suddenly put at our doorstep during the first season we look like favorites to win the title.

Is this a nothing story being hyped up by the Guardian? I havent heard about it before, but of course I remember the bungs scandal. Maybe Lens, Dean Ashton and Ian f**king Wright could join up and make this a class action lawsuit

[WV2 Blue]

If nothing is on the official website..i'd ignore it

[TheWestwayWonder]

If nothing is on the official website..i'd ignore it

I orginally found it on eurosport, but its not on any of the trashier websites like soccernet, and on the guardian's page it is buried among the other stories. Surely it would be front and center if there was a hope in hell we were in trouble.

More than anything its galling to read we paid well in excess of 1.2 million to agents just to gain the signature of that son-of-an-asshole bust

[Barry Bridges]

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial...ew-era-of-sense