The Football Association has confirmed it will investigate claims that an unauthorized agent was used as part of Tottenham Hotspur’s sale of Jermain Defoe to Portsmouth in 2008.
Defoe spent four years at Tottenham before moving to Portsmouth for £7.5 million in January 2008, scoring 16 goals in 31 Premier League games before returning to White Hart Lane 12 months later.
according to timesan unlicensed agent called Mitchell Thomas was used to help with the negotiations, while Spurs chairman Daniel Levy also failed to agree a representation deal with another agent who received £1 million in compensation for his involvement in the sale. However, both were violations of FA regulations.
A committee investigating potential transfer issues said in January 2010 that Thomas had helped Defoe secure the terms of his contract with Portsmouth, despite Defoe’s claims that he had negotiated the contract himself. However, the FA rejected a disciplinary claim against Spurs after being presented with the evidence.
An FA spokesperson said: “This case was heard by an independent arbitration panel 15 years ago.” “The FA was not a party to the arbitration. It was unclear at the time how much information was shared with the FA and no disciplinary action was taken. If there is a violation of the rules, we will review it. ”
In a separate statement, the FA confirmed: “We are considering this case and as part of that we will consider the arbitration panel’s decision.”
Harry Redknapp, who was Portsmouth’s manager at the time of the deal, admitted he believed Thomas was acting on Defoe’s behalf.
“I remember that transfer well because it’s the story I talk about as an after-dinner speaker,” he said. “Jermain’s mother came in with him that day and she asked about the goal bonus. I looked at her and said, ‘That’s the goal we’re paying him for.’
“I had little to do with this deal, but as far as I know, Mitchell Thomas was his agent.”
Clubs have faced heavy penalties in the past for violating agent rules. Luton Town were deducted 10 points and fined £50,000 for failing to agree an international contract in 2008, while former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino was arrested as an unauthorized agent in 2017. He was banned from football for 12 months because of his work with.