0·10 months ago- The FA is investigating serious breaches of agent rules in the transfer of Jermain Defoe involving Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, and unlicensed agents.
- The private hearing in 2008 revealed that Defoe, Tottenham’s chairman Daniel Levy, and Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp dealt with an unlicensed agent, Mitchell Thomas.
- Despite breaches, no disciplinary action was initially taken, in contrast to other cases where clubs faced point deductions for breaking agent regulations.
- Mitchell Thomas, an unlicensed agent, played a central role in the transfer, and Daniel Levy enlisted licensed agent Stuart Peters, though a formal representation contract was not evident.
- The FA regulations prohibited the use of unlicensed players’ agents and required a written representation contract between agents and players or clubs.
- Failure to comply with these regulations could result in severe sanctions, including transfer bans, points deduction, or relegation for clubs, and warnings, fines, or bans for agents and players.
- A panel, including Cherie Booth, found in 2010 that Thomas was involved in Defoe’s move, leading to compensation to Defoe’s former agent, Sky Andrew.
- Despite these findings, no disciplinary action was initially taken, but the FA is now reopening the case, aiming to obtain the panel’s verdict and any additional evidence.
- The FA plans to review the arbitration panel award and may interview former staff to understand events in 2010.
- David Lampitt, head of financial regulation at the time, left in 2010 and is now the chief executive of a tennis data organization.