Clubs face charges over illegal transfer deals

LONDON - A PREMIERSHIP club who paid the parents of talented young players in a bid to sign them are one of the 16 top English sides facing disciplinary charges for breaking transfer rules.

The unnamed club feature in the 344-page document handed over to the League on Wednesday by the Lord Stevens team investigating illegal transfer payments.

More than 50 transfers have been found to break the rules.

While some of these are minor and will be dealt with by a warning or advisory letter, the others - including the illicit payments to parents - are likely to result in charges.

The worst offender may even have points deducted if found guilty, reported The Sun.

The League said it was considering the action to be taken.

The offending clubs can expect to be charged within the next month.

Officials insist the breaches are not 'criminal in nature'.

They mostly involve payments by clubs direct to third parties, agents representing more than one party and failure to disclose the full financial breakdown of deals.

Other transgressions include incorrect written agreements with agents, players' contracts containing potential breaches of rules and the involvement of unlicensed agents.

Three clubs did not even know the regulations.

A League source told The Independent: 'Some may involve very minor technical breaches that lead to small fines, or perhaps no action other than a warning.

'Others may involve charges under the FA or the Premiership rules.

'We don't know at this stage how many will fall into each category.'

However, there is a strong feeling among the clubs that they would receive only a warning for any misdemeanours.