Tottenham could be relegated with FA reviewing 'serious breach of rules' after initially taking no action
Tottenham could be relegated if found guilty of breaching FA rules
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The FA are reportedly preparing to review evidence of 'potentially serious breaches of agent rules'.
The country's governing body are looking at a case involving Tottenham, Portsmouth and striker Jermain Defoe.
According to The Times, during a private hearing concerning the transfer of Defoe to Portsmouth in January 2008, an unlicensed agent was involved in negotiations.
Defoe, Daniel Levy and Harry Redknapp - who was Portsmouth manager at the time - were also part of the talks.
Tottenham sold Jermain Defoe back to Portsmouth back in 2008
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Breaches of FA agent rules have seen clubs docked points in recent years, with directors also banned.
In this case, however, the FA reportedly took no disciplinary action.
That same year, Luton Town were docked 10 points for breaking agent regulations.
During an arbitration hearing over the transfer of Defoe, the panel in question found that Mitchell Thomas, an unlicensed agent, was 'a central figure in the deal'.
The FA named Thomas on a list of agents who had been working in the sport without a license back in 2008.
It was also heard that Levy had enlisted the services of Stuart Peters to act for Tottenham.
A representation contract, which is required under FA rules, supposedly did not appear to be in place.
Levy paid Peters a sum of £1 million for his role in the £7.5m deal, it is claimed.
Under the FA rules, agents can act for a player, the buying club or the selling club in a transfer.
However, they must have a formal representation and hold a licence as well.
Tottenham are yet to comment on the matter - and neither has Defoe.
FA regulations at the time stated that both “players and clubs are forbidden from using the services of an unlicensed players’ agent."
Those same rules remain in place today.
According to the publication, a failure to comply with the regulations should be regarded 'as an extremely serious matter'.
It could lead to 'heavy sanctions' including a points deduction, a transfer ban or even relegation.
The agents themselves can face anything from a warning or fine to a ban.
The panel concluded in 2010 and deduced Thomas had been involved in helping Defoe to agree to terms of his departure from Tottenham.
It sent its findings to the FA but the governing body do not think they are in possession of all the relevant documentation.
They will, however, review the case is more information becomes available.
“The case was heard by an independent arbitration panel 15 years ago,” a spokeswoman for the FA said.
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Jermian Defoe's move from Tottenham to Portsmouth in 2008 is being reviewed by the FA
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“The FA was not a party to the arbitration.
"It is unclear how much information was shared with the FA at the time, and no disciplinary action was taken.
"If there is new evidence which was not available at the time, and which suggests serious breaches of our rules took place, we will review it.”