16 Dec 2008

Portsmouth fined over transfer of player

6:24 am on 16 December 2008

English Premier League football club Portsmouth and a players' agent have both been found guilty of breaking FA rules in connection with the transfer of Benjani Mwaruwari to and from the club.

Portsmouth were fined 41 thousand dollars with a further 41 thousand dollar fine suspended for two years following the investigation by an independent regulatory commission.

Scotland-registered agent Willie McKay was given a suspended suspension of his overseas registration.

It was found that McKay acted on behalf of AJ Auxerre in the transfer of Benjani from the French club to Portsmouth in January 2006 and then on behalf of Portsmouth when Benjani moved to Manchester City two years later.

FA regulations prohibit agents from acting for two different clubs in two consecutive transactions involving the same player.