Tottenham Hotspur Breaches of Jermain Defoe Transfer - Times Exclusive

[YB123]

Potential punishments include Points Deductions, Transfer Bans & Relegation.....

 

[Guntz]

Great, just what we need right now…

 

[13VanDerBale13]

Ludicrous

 

[spursfan77]

Someone is still bitter it seems

 

[NickHSpurs]

TalkSport say Mitchell Thomas was on a list of unlicensed blacklisted agents but we were saying at the time he was acting as a "go-between".

 

[mil1lion]

I wouldn't worry until we find more conclusive news. It does seem crazy they're not doing anything about certain other clubs but digging this kind of stuff up. It was so long ago too.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

I think we should just accept the charges, and agree that Redknapp (and his family) are barred from all football-related activities for 2 years. And Daniel Levy will be banned from serving as chairman for a period of 5 years.

Every cloud deserves a silver lining!

 

[tubbygold]

Are they just digging up stuff on otherwise fairly run clubs to avoid dealing with the actual problem?

 

[Trix]

I wouldn't worry until we find more conclusive news. It does seem crazy they're not doing anything about certain other clubs but digging this kind of stuff up. It was so long ago too.

It's not that simple. It's been unearthed by accident through other legal proceeding's that were not Spurs related.

If it's true, and I strongly suspect it is, then Levy is back on my "in the bin list and the knives will be well and truly out".

 

[lincspurs]

It seems bizarre that of of all the potentially dodgy deals, this is the one Matt Lawton decides to focus on, from 15 years ago!!
Wonder why??

 

[GioW]

Irony of us waiting for City and Chelsea to go down and we end up opening our 26/27 season at Hemel Hempstead

 

[YB123]

Irony of us waiting for City and Chelsea to go down and we end up opening our 26/27 season at Hemel Hampstead

We'd still lose the FA Trophy final...

 

[gushayes11]

So we wouldn’t even win the championship if they relegate us cause City and Chelsea will be there too?

 

[bubble07]

found this from a poster on reddit so not claiming its me or accurate but interesting/detailed

Summary:

• The Times investigation reveals that during the 2008 transfer of Defoe from White Hart Lane to Fratton Park, an unlicensed agent, Mitchell Thomas, was involved.
• Both the Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, and the Portsmouth manager at the time, Harry Redknapp, dealt with this unlicensed agent during negotiations.
• Despite breaches of FA agent rules that usually result in point deductions and bans, no disciplinary action was taken by the governing body in this case.
• Mitchell Thomas, a former player and unlicensed agent, played a central role in the Defoe transfer, as confirmed in an arbitration hearing.
• Daniel Levy enlisted licensed agent Stuart Peters for Tottenham but lacked a formal representation contract, a requirement under FA rules.
• Levy agreed to pay Peters around £1 million for his role in the £7.5 million transfer.
• Agents must hold a license and have a formal representation contract, detailing the entire agreement and commission due; Tottenham did not comment on providing evidence of such a contract.

FA regulations at the time stipulated that both “players and clubs are forbidden from using the services of an unlicensed players’ agent”. The rules, which remain in place today, also said that “a players’ agent shall be permitted to represent a player or a club only by concluding the relevant written representation contract with that player or club”

• Failure to comply with football regulations can lead to severe sanctions for clubs, including transfer bans, points deductions, or relegation, while agents and players may face warnings, fines, or bans.
• The panel, with detailed phone records, found in 2010 that Mitchell Thomas helped Defoe with his transfer terms, but the FA took no disciplinary action, citing a lack of relevant documentation.
• The FA, now open to reviewing the case with new evidence, emphasizes that it was not involved in the 15-year-old independent arbitration and was unaware of the details.
• David Lampitt, head of financial regulation at the FA during the relevant period, left for Portsmouth three months after the arbitration findings but hasn't explained why the Defoe case wasn't pursued further.
• Comparable cases resulted in disciplinary actions, such as Luton Town's points deduction and fine in 2008, and the ban and fine imposed on former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino in 2017.
• The FA Rule K arbitration panels settle disputes privately, and their findings are sent to the FA for potential regulatory action based on evidence of rule breaches.
• A sports barrister advises clients to seek settlements to avoid FA arbitration in regulatory disputes.
• In 2009, it was reported that Sky Andrew, Defoe's former agent, pursued Defoe for using other agents in his move to Portsmouth in 2008.
• Defoe had a breakdown in his relationship with Andrew in 2007 and claimed to negotiate his move without an agent.
• Andrew pursued Defoe, accessing phone records to prove involvement of agents Stuart Peters and Mitchell Thomas in Defoe's move.
• An initial four-day hearing in November 2008 involved testimony from Defoe, Levy, Peters, Thomas, and Peter Storrie (Portsmouth's CEO).
• Peters, instructed by Levy, had a business relationship with Thomas, although Peters denied involvement in football transfer business.
• Thomas, a friend of Defoe, directly dealt with Levy, Defoe, and Redknapp on transfer deadline day in January 2008.
• Levy was challenged on the lack of a legitimate representation contract with Peters and claimed ignorance of FA agent regulations.
• Defoe claimed self-representation despite evidence of letters from Peters and Thomas on his behalf. Tottenham did not engage with Andrew.
• Levy's earlier dealings with Sol Campbell's transfer to Arsenal in 2001 were noted, representing a bruising episode for Tottenham.
• In January 2008, with 18 months left on his Tottenham contract, Jermain Defoe, like Sol Campbell, had a representation agreement with agent Sky Andrew.
• Concerned about losing Defoe for free, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, in October 2007, instructed agent Stuart Peters to explore Defoe's intentions and either secure a new deal or facilitate a move.
• Levy's letter to Peters, from SP Management Limited, requested information on Defoe's agreement with Andrew and sought assistance in persuading Defoe to stay or facilitating a move.
• Peters, with limited transfer market experience, received an estimated £1 million fee. He spoke to Portsmouth on Tottenham's behalf but didn't negotiate the transfer fee, focusing on Defoe's personal terms that increased his salary substantially.
• The panel scrutinized Levy's decision to choose Peters, noting his licensed status but highlighting his lack of transfer deal experience and distance from Defoe.
• The panel also emphasized Peters' business relationship with unlicensed agent Mitchell Thomas, who had a close bond with Defoe, concluding that Levy's choice of Peters gave Tottenham access to Defoe through Thomas.
• The arbitration panel ruled in favor of Sky Andrew, finding Defoe in breach of their agreement. Defoe was ordered to pay Andrew a substantial six-figure sum for damages, plus costs.
  

  Quote: "The arbitration panel found in favour of Andrew, concluding that Defoe was in breach of his agreement with the agent. Defoe was ordered to pay Andrew a substantial six-figure sum for damages, plus costs."

• The panel accessed phone records secured by Andrew via the High Court, revealing Thomas's multiple phone conversations with Defoe on the day of his transfer, contradicting earlier statements.
  

  Quote: "By the time the arbitration panel issued its award in January 2010, it had accessed the phone records secured by Andrew via the High Court."

• The records showed Thomas's involvement in Defoe's transfer negotiations with calls to Levy and Redknapp, contradicting their earlier testimony. The panel doubted Defoe negotiated his deal independently.
  

  Quote: "The phone records showed that, on January 31, 2008 — the day of Defoe’s transfer — Thomas spoke to Defoe on the telephone on multiple occasions, throughout the day..."

• Despite evidence of inconsistencies and involvement of Levy, Redknapp, Peters, and Defoe, no action was taken by the FA. Defoe later returned to Tottenham for over £15 million and played in the 2010 World Cup.

Quote: "Yet no action was taken by the FA against Levy, Redknapp, their clubs, Peters or Defoe."

• Tottenham and Defoe declined to comment. Mitchell Thomas and Stuart Peters have not responded to requests for comments.
  

  Quote: "Tottenham have declined to comment, while Defoe, 41, now coaches Tottenham’s under-18s, has not responded to a request for comment. Thomas, 59, has also not responded to a request for comment."

• Redknapp, when approached, recalled the transfer but claimed limited involvement. He stated he was not questioned by the FA about his conversation with Thomas.

Quote: "Redknapp spoke to The Times. 'I remember that transfer well because it’s a story I tell as an after-dinner speaker...'"

 

[McFlash]

It's not that simple. It's been unearthed by accident through other legal proceeding's that were not Spurs related.

If it's true, and I strongly suspect it is, then Levy is back on my "in the bin list and the knives will be well and truly out".

Seem quite un-Levy though, as I always thought he had a bit of hatred towards agents and how much they charge?
I wouldn't put it past old 'Arry though, he's always been dodgy.

It'll be interesting to find out what happened and if we have broken the rules, well just have to take whatever comes bit it better be relative to any punishments Chelsea and City get.

The more people start looking into football deals, I doubt they find many clubs who haven't tried to bend the rules to some degree.

 

[rossdapep]

Go dig into Chelsea, United , Arsenal and Liverpool's transfer dealings.

I guarantee this has been done by them all

 

[rossdapep]

If we are guilty and there is strong evidence, I imagine a trasnfer ban would be most likely?

I mean Chelsea did far more rule breaking when they got their transfer ban.

 

[bubble07]

If we are guilty and there is strong evidence, I imagine a trasnfer ban would be most likely?

I mean Chelsea did far more rule breaking when they got their transfer ban.

problem is levy would love nothing more than a transfer ban

 

[montylynch]

Was this the transfer when Jermaines mum insisted on a goal bonus...???

It's all in Harry's book....

 

[Trix]

Seem quite un-Levy though, as I always thought he had a bit of hatred towards agents and how much they charge?
I wouldn't put it past old 'Arry though, he's always been dodgy.

It'll be interesting to find out what happened and if we have broken the rules, well just have to take whatever comes bit it better be relative to any punishments Chelsea and City get.

The more people start looking into football deals, I doubt they find many clubs who haven't tried to bend the rules to some degree.

He does, and the agent he has the most hatred for......... drumroll.............Sky Andrew who coincidentally was Defoe's agent when all this was going down or at least right up until this particular deal happened when we used someone else to broker the deal.