Issue 145

Bung allegations mar new season

25th September 2006

Another promising season in the Premier League has been marred by BBC claims of corruption, with several top clubs being involved. After a hot summer in the transfer market promised for an explosive start to the season, which is what has happened but not for the expected four teams. Arsenal are floundering mid table, Liverpool are having their usual early season hiccups and both Manchester United and Chelsea have dropped unexpected points. There are some unexpected faces in the top half of the table, with newcomers Reading holding their own so far, and Aston Villa performing well for new Manager Martin O'Neal. Surprise frontrunners at this early stage are Portsmouth, having yet to concede a goal, the only points they have dropped were in a 0-0 draw away at Man City. However, all this promise for the new season has been set back by the claims of the BBC programme Panorama. At the moment Sam Allardyce is the biggest manager that has been named as taking bungs (illegal payments to managers involved in the transfer of players), but he denies all claims. Bolton are not the only club that have been named, as Chelsea, Portsmouth and Newcastle are involved as well. However, these clubs are only suspected of the lesser charge of "tapping up", which amounts to approaching a player with regards to a transfer while he is contracted to another club, which is against FA rules.

So far there has been a fairly firm reaction from clubs, with denial coming from all sides. Newcastle assistant manager Kevin Bond is suing the BBC over the claims, which will bring a head to the whole issue, as a judge will have to decide who is in the right, and will either bring an apology from the BBC or some key people will have to resign from their respective clubs. The Football Association has promised to fully investigate all the claims raised by the BBC, and a statement said, "The FA takes any allegations of corruption in the game extremely seriously and will actively investigate the claims made by the programme." Bolton Wanderers have also launched their own independent investigation into the claims about their manager

FA Chief-Executive Brian Barwick said, "It is vital for the integrity of the game and for every football supporter that we do this." This issue definitely needs to be sorted as it has been in the background of the league for the last few years, and if this investigation gets it all sorted it is a good thing. The Premier League has the qualities to be the best league of football in the world, but it needs to sort out all these issues first. We do not want an issue like they have had in Italy where big clubs are getting relegated and having titles taken away because of illegal practice. There are definite chances of point deductions for Chelsea this season if these BBC claims are made to stick, as they were accused of "tapping up" last season and made to pay heavy fines over their approach of Ashley Cole. For the other clubs involved the punishments are unlikely to be as severe, maybe in the form of financial penalties or suspensions.

Matt Cannon