Wed 20 Dec 06
Silent Bunging
Lord Stevens has issued a report on illegal payments in football transfers, citing 17 incidents, but has not yet named names:
“This is no witch hunt. This is no whitewash,” said Stevens, whose Quest team looked at 362 transfers between January 2004-06. “The reason why we are not naming names is the inquiry is ongoing. I know you would like us to name and shame but I can’t do it at the present stage.”
When asked whether there were “crooks” making money from football, Stevens uttered a firm “yes” - although he insisted that the majority of the game is “clean but the accounting processes and monitoring of the clubs are in a mess”.
Stevens has made 39 recommendations which he believes “are essential to the future and reputation” of the game - including an independent body to handle the audit of transfers.
Paul Canniff
