Stevens report names clubs
By ALI MARTIN
June 15, 2007
FIVE Premier League clubs have been named by Lord Stevens in his report into top-flight transfers.
Chelsea, Newcastle, Bolton, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth were highlighted by the former Metropolitan Police commissioner in his findings to the Premier League.
The report has queried 17 transfers including Didier Drogba's move to Chelsea and the deal that took Benjani to Portsmouth.
The clubs involved are set to face a further investigation from the Football Association.
Stevens has also expressed concern about 15 agents and third parties involved in the 17 transfers.
Stevens' report specifically lists concerns about two managers.
One is Sam Allardyce, and a conflict of interest with his former agent son Craig and Bolton Wanderers.
The other is Graeme Souness, with Stevens reporting "inconsistencies in evidence" provided by the former Newcastle manager and Kenneth Shepherd, son of Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd.
Of the 17 transfers, four relate to Newcastle signings Emre Belozoglu, Jean Alain Boumsong, Amady Faye and Albert Luque.
Bolton's deals were for Ali Al-Habsi, Tal Ben Haim, Blessing Kaku and Julio Correia.
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Chelsea signings Didier Drogba, Petr Cech and Michael Essien are under investigation, as are Portsmouth's deals for Collins Mbesuma, Benjani Mwaruwari and Aliou Cisse.
Middlesbrough's moves for Aiyegbeni Yakubu and Fabio Rochemback and one unnamed transfer make up the list.
Lord Stevens said in a statement: "Many lessons have been learned and strict adherence to and enforcement of the recommendations should ensure that the game and the transfer market can proceed in an untainted and transparent manner."
No clubs or officials have been found to have taken illegal payments and all clubs co-operated with the investigation.
The Premier League and the FA also admitted to Stevens some responsibility for failing to check transfers sufficiently.
The League say in their report to clubs: "Both the Premier League and the FA have already accepted partial responsibility for not having effective checking and verification systems at the front end of the transfer process.
"However, this does not excuse the prevalence of slack administration and lack of understanding of complex rules by some clubs that have led to an unacceptable level of compliance.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007270817,00.html
