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[Winrew]

Chelsea....Cole and Mourhino all found guilty by the F.A.
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[CJ Mars]

From the BBC

At first glance I can't see how the FA can turn around and fine Cole and Chelsea 250,000 given the low levels of the previous fines.

More generally the rules would seem at first glance to me to be in breach of a host of Freedom of Trade EU laws and Mourinho being himself will no doubt fight the ruling tooth and claw. The FA should wise up and change their rules. Why should football be any different to any other business? If some company rang anyone here behind their current employer's back looking to hire them they and us wouldn't be hauled in front of some kangaroo tribunal to explain themselves so why should footballers be any different? Time for the authorities to get their heads ourt of the sand on this one and sort out some more realistic system. Perhaps players could only be approached within a certain window or windows and the approaching club would have to pay an additional fee to make the approach based on a player's valuation even if nothing transpired. This would at least restrict approachs for the sake of approachs.

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Chelsea guilty of tapping up Cole


Chelsea, Ashley Cole and Jose Mourinho have been found guilty in the Premier League's tapping-up probe.
Blues chief executive Peter Kenyon, Mourinho, Cole and agents Pini Zahavi and Jonathan Barnett were said to have met at a London restaurant in January.

England and Arsenal defender Cole, who flew in from the US for the hearing, Chelsea and Blues boss Mourinho are likely to receive unprecedented fines.

All three parties have 14 days to appeal against the verdict.

A statement from the Premier League confirmed the chairman of the independent commission, Sir Phillip Otton, was continuing to take "statements of mitigation".

Details of punishments following the guilty verdicts were expected later on Wednesday.

Chelsea in breach of Rule K3 which prohibits a club making an approach to a player under contract without obtaining permission of his club
Ashley Cole in breach of Rule K5 which prevents a contracted player making an approach to a club with a view to negotiating a contract without prior written consent from his club
Jose Mourinho was found to be in breach of Rule Q, governing managers' conduct

Cole was found in breach of Premier League rule K5, which prohibited him from approaching Chelsea with a view to negotiating a transfer, without permission from Arsenal.

Chelsea were found guilty of breaking rule K3, forbidding them approaching Cole, who has two years left on his contract, by any means while under contract.

Mourinho was in breach of rule Q, governing managers' conduct.

Chelsea's 'super agent' Zahavi was alleged to have been at the Lancaster Gate meeting, as was Cole's representative Barnett.

However, they do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Premier League and therefore there could not be any imposition on them.

The Premier League can pass on the independent commission's findings to the Football Association.

It acted following newspaper reports in January that Cole, Mourinho and Kenyon met at the Royal Park Hotel at Lancaster Gate, London, launching an investigation seven days after the initial allegations.

The charges were laid on March 23, after the Premier League carried out initial investigations, with a view to seeing if there was a case for anyone to answer.

Rules should be put into place with regard to what agents can and can't do

Charges against Cole, Mourinho and Chelsea were made in March, with an independent commission hearing the case on 17-18 May.

Football's authorities want to make clear tapping up will not be tolerated and fines could hit £250,000.

That far outweighs the previous record Premier League financial punishment incurred in March 2002 when Middlesbrough brought charges against Liverpool for illegally approaching defender Christian Ziege.

The Merseyside club were fined £20,000 while the player was hit with a £10,000 penalty.

Earlier this season Aston Villa were warned and ordered to pay costs for making an illegal approach to the then Southampton striker James Beattie.

[Winrew]

Chelsea, their manager Jose Mourinho and Ashley Cole have been handed record fines after being found guilty in the Premier League's tapping-up probe.

Chelsea were fined £300,000 and given a suspended three-point deduction.

Arsenal defender Cole was handed a £100,000 fine, while Blues manager Jose Mourinho will have to pay £200,000.

All three were said to have breached league rules by secretly meeting, without Cole's club knowing, at a London restaurant on 27 January.

The guilty parties have 14 days to appeal against the decisions of the independent commission.

Cole's lawyer Graham Shear confirmed he would be launching an immediate appeal, citing restraint of trade as a possible argument.

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck also said they would almost certainly be contesting the club's punishment, and that of Mourinho as well.


A drop in the ocean me thinks.....

[all_funkt_up]

No deterrant is it. If Cole is able to move to another club and get a £70k pay rise - how is a £100k fine a deterrant? 7 days salary? piece of piss to a multi millionaire like him. footballers want the security of a contract when it suits them and the freedom to move when it suits them. they cant have it both ways. If Winston Bogarde and players like him, expects his club to honour a contract when they dont want him - players should show loyalty the other way. So if a player wants to leave but is under contract, he should honour his contract and respect the fans of the club he is at.

Cole has the nerve to call for equality. Fuck you Ashley Cole. If I get sacked, I get a months notice (if that). A footballer will get the balance of his contract if he is released (not due to gross misconduct). Even clubs that were in dire straights (Bradford for one) were obliged to come to an agreement with the footballers to pay them up. Cunts like Carbone took Bradford to the cleaners. Workers at Rover get sacked, what do they get? Fuck all.............

Premiership Footballers, you are in a priveleged position earning millions for doing something you enjoy. How dare you bleat on about equality when you have it like you do.

[all_funkt_up]

Sorry for the swear words but cole does my head in

[Winrew]

No problem AFU.....i toatlly agree mate.

[Billypunter]

I totally totally disagree with this and I fckuing hate Chelsea, Arsenal and Cole. It just doesn't make sense. Everyone is saying Cole should honour his contracrt but Arsenal won't if they want to sell him. And the only reason clubs want long contracts with players now is so that they can sell them during the contract period rather than let them go for nothing when it ends.

If Cole is happy he won't move full stop. Tapping up will always go on so make it legal. If someone wants to talk to me about moving jobs why shouldn't I go and meet them. Why should it be any different for professional footballers however much they get paid.

The football authorities have been criticised left right and centre over the past few years and they're just trying to prove they have balls.

It's another cock-up and they will lose if it goes to the courts.