What should the Premier League/Uefa do?

[Nem]

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news...out180708.html


There has been substantial speculation in respect of the futures of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, including press comment from both Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez. In response our Chairman, Daniel Levy has made the following statement:

"Today's public comments by Manchester United's manager, announcing that he has made an offer for Dimitar and is confident that the deal will go through with time working in their favour, is a blatant example of sheer arrogance and interference with one of our players. It is also probably one of the worst offences by any manager in the Premier League to date and is unbelievably hypocritical given his recent comments in respect of Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid.

"This comes after a series of events, dating back to last summer, which have shown Manchester United to be in breach of Premier League (PL) rules. As a result, we have today made an official complaint to the PL about the conduct of Manchester United. Benitez made similar comments in respect of Robbie recently and we made an official complaint to the PL about the conduct of Liverpool earlier this week.

"The behaviour of both clubs has been disgraceful. We told both clubs very early on that we had no interest in selling Robbie or Dimitar, respectively, and that they should refrain from pursuing the player. Both clubs arrogantly chose to ignore this request and we now have evidence that both clubs have systematically been working to prise the players away from us, outside of PL rules of conduct.

"Our subsequent position has been severely compromised by both clubs making their intentions widely known and indeed making contact with the players and their agents, without the Club's permission.

"I have absolutely no wish to sell either player and to date we have not accepted any offer for either. However, when a player's head is turned and their commitment is absent, particularly when they occupy key positions such as that of striker, they become a negative influence in a team dressing room in which they were once a positive addition and influence. This is the situation we now have on our hands, with both Dimitar and Robbie having made it clear that they wish to leave for Manchester Utd and Liverpool respectively.

"Irrespective of the outcome and futures of Robbie and Dimitar, we are continuing to seek to bring in quality, talented players for the future, who want to play in a Spurs shirt."

[maldini32]

Didnt you lot tap up Bostock?

[Nem]

Didnt you lot tap up Bostock?

No.

He was out of a contract and Spurs offered him one.

For the sake of the league, something seriously has to be done. How can any of the teams trying to break into the top 4 compete if the top 4 can tap up ther players' and get away with it?

I want a points reduction for both of them.

[77dave]

If UEFA do nothing to Real Madrid how can they do anything to Man Utd or Liverpool.

Surely Liverpool would have a greater case to answer in the Barry/Villa deal than the Keane/Spurs.

[maldini32]

Didnt you lot tap up Bostock?

No.

He was out of a contract and Spurs offered him one.

For the sake of the league, something seriously has to be done. How can any of the teams trying to break into the top 4 compete if the top 4 can tap up ther players' and get away with it?

I want a points reduction for both of them.

Fair enough.

FWIW i would much rather have Keane at Liverpool than Barry.

The problem for rest of the premiership teams is that if one of the big 4 come in for a player, the player will wanna move more often than not and the clubs can't really do an awful lot (apart from hike the price up).

[Jim-D]

The differance between the Real/Ronaldo situation and the United/Berbatov one is that United have actually made a substantial bid to go along with the statement that they'd love to have him in there team, Ok i dont really like Ferguson coming out with the statements he has (and to be fair it is very unlike him as he generally keeps transfer talk in house) but atleast he's put the ball in spurs' court, tell us to fuck off or do the right thing and let the lad step up another level


Oh and as for the Liverpool saga, I say deduction of 40 points should do the trick....

[The Baron]

I'm a bit lost. What's the problem. A manager saying "I would like this player - he's very good" to see if the player wants it or to help the player request a transfer has been a part of footall dealing for years.

Did Chelsea not do it for Gerrard twice in two summers when he was under contract to Liverpool?

Levy should get over it - it's a part of the modern game.

If Man U have to put up with it from someone then we all have to.

[boldie]

ManU and Ferguson are hypocrites?...Not really a shocker there, is it?

UEFA can't do anything as they allow it when Real do it...personally though I think a 10 point deduction will sort the problem out very fast.

[mondatoo]

[ ] The FA or UEFA will do something about this
[X] Every club does this now FACT

[The Baron]

ManU and Ferguson are hypocrites?...Not really a shocker there, is it?

UEFA can't do anything as they allow it when Real do it...personally though I think a 10 point deduction will sort the problem out very fast.

Is it really a problem? Absolutely every club in the EPL has used comments or the press to help prize away a player from a smaller club. This isn't exactly a one off.

Spurs are not an exception. It's all well and good saying Man U are hypocrites - but is anyone expecting me to believe Spurs haven't done it?

From reading between the lines, Spurs are one of the biggest leakers of their transfer targets to the media. (I'm not denying Liverpool use the media massively too)

Don't even get me started on Chimbonda leaving Wigan due to Spurs media tactics.

[Jim-D]

[X] Baron speaks a lot of sense.

[Jim-D]

The reason I haven't been on here whineing and moaning about the tactics of Madrid is for the reason Baron states, it is and has been for a while part and parcel of modern football

[jizzemm]

The reason I haven't been on here whineing and moaning about the tactics of Madrid is for the reason Baron states, it is and has been for a while part and parcel of modern football

+1

[boldie]

The reason I haven't been on here whineing and moaning about the tactics of Madrid is for the reason Baron states, it is and has been for a while part and parcel of modern football

True, but that doesn't mean it should be acceptable. There is a discreet and decent way of doing business and this is not it. It might be part and parcel of football these days but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be stamped out. It's very bad for smaller clubs that bigger clubs act this way and the big clubs should be severely punished for it (in my opinion)

[Jim-D]

The reason I haven't been on here whineing and moaning about the tactics of Madrid is for the reason Baron states, it is and has been for a while part and parcel of modern football

True, but that doesn't mean it should be acceptable. There is a discreet and decent way of doing business and this is not it. It might be part and parcel of football these days but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be stamped out. It's very bad for smaller clubs that bigger clubs act this way and the big clubs should be severely punished for it (in my opinion)

The thing is 'Every' club would have to be punished, It's not fair to single out Liverpool, United & Madrid etc just because they fill more space in the media due to being 'bigger' clubs?!