The Football Association (FA) Premier League, which represents the 20 clubs in England’s top-flight division, said on Tuesday it is to launch an inquiry into financial procedures in player transfers since January 2004.
The decision comes soon after allegations of transfer bungs from Luton boss Mike Newell and QPR coach Ian Holloway.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was also reported to have told an undercover reporter of transfer impropriety involving Premier League clubs.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: ”There is a great deal of speculation regarding alleged irregular payments in transfer dealings.
”The Premier League has not, as yet, been presented with any evidence to substantiate this speculation. However, due to their frequent and persistent nature, allegations of wrongdoing, whether real or perceived, need to be addressed.
”This inquiry will be fully independent with a remit to investigate transfer dealings concluded since January 2004 and to report any findings of irregular payments to or from club employees or officials.
”We consulted all 20 member clubs over the past 24 hours to enlist their support for the launching of this inquiry. The support for this initiative has been unanimous,” said Scudamore.
”The reputational damage being done to the Premier League is in danger of becoming too great and developing into a chronic problem. This area needs to be tackled head on so we can move forward and view the way player transfers are conducted with trust and certainty.”
Scudamore, however, denied that the inquiry is directly linked to any recent allegations that transfer bungs are still rife in football.
”We completely refute that,” Scudamore told Sky Sports News. ”To do that would be nonsensical. It’s been building and building. Not since Mike Newell, or Sven’s revelations, but before then.”
Championship coaches Newell and Holloway will be out of jurisdiction of the inquiry, and Scudamore said they will only be interviewed if they have information concerning wrongdoing by officials or employees at a Premiership club.
Scudamore added that he expects the departing England coach to cooperate in the investigation even though he is not a Premier League boss.
”I am sure the inquiry will wish to speak to him and anybody else who has raised similar comments,” said Scudamore.
”We don’t have the power to insist Sven-Goran Eriksson sits and talks to us, but having said that I would imagine he has no reason not to. I cannot imagine the Football Association and Football League will be anything other than cooperative.” — Sapa-AFP