What did everyone think of the programme tonight?

Thank God Allardye wasn't appointed England manager, or we'd have a right scandal on our hands.

Just posted a similar thing on the Premiership thread.

The first thing my Missus said when the show was over was "Kinda makes you warm to Steve McLaren a bit more, doesn't it?"

Sam's reputation is in tatters now, Harry's to a lesser extent but still not good. Mind you, Harry's always been a bit dodgy, hasn't he?

Aye, I thought it was a big enough issue for its own thread.

Chelsea HAVE to be docked points, don't they? They were leniently dealt with regarding the Ashley Cole thing, but the suspended 3-point deduction surely has to be imposed now.

Allardye is in poo.

It was interesting to see the names of other club officials named in the filmed extracts blocked out. Presumably for legal reasons.

Interesting that in the 12 month BBC investigation no less than 18 past or present managers have been named in the context of illegal payments and other forms of corruption such as tapping and bribes.

Preumably, the Premier League and the FA will await the Stevens Report on the 2nd October with even greater interest.

In the meantime it looks as though Allardyce and Bond are finished.

Frank Arnesen in bang to rights there if you ask me, but I have a suspicion that Chelsea will get away with it yet again.

When you're 'financially punished' with an amount similar to what Roman Abrahmovic earns in interest in 3.2 seconds over the Ashley Cole thing, and your amazing ability to obtain work permits for players who aren't entitled to them (Mikel and Kalou) goes unchecked, a little thing like their Director of Football being recorded breaking FIFA transfer rules is nothing but a mere inconvenience.

At the risk of sounding cynical, I suspect that you're right, Mezz.

Also, Sporting Life suggest that Chelsea's suspended points deduction only applies for commissioning the same offence again - and tapping up youth players is a different offence under FA rules, it would appear.

I can't believe I missed it! Would somebody be so kind as to fill me in with details about the programme? Cheers!

Well, the most shocking revelation relating to Harry Redknapp was that he likes Andy Todd.

quote:

"I like Toddy, don't I? No I'd take him. I would take him. I would take him without a doubt."

Is 'arry talking about tapping him up or taking him out for dinner? Does Mrs Redknapp know about this unrequited love?

It's a bit of a rubbish scandal.

quote:

Originally posted by Saviola:
Well, the most shocking revelation relating to Harry Redknapp was that he likes Andy Todd.

^^^ Post of the year.

Basically, Bracey, the maker of the programme set up a team of a Dutch guy posing as an agent, and a "fake" American businessman, and pretended they were setting up a sports agency, which they wanted to start up by profitting from bungs,

The Dutch bloke was the undercover reporter, went to see three separate FIFA-licesnsed agents whilst secretly filming, and discussed how widespread 'bungs' were. They were told by the agents that it was extremely common, that they had all done it, and I think two separate agents told the Dutch guy that they knew of 6-8 Premiership managers who would be up for taking bungs to buy players.

They bleeped out the names of the managers (presumably legal reasons) but all three agents mentioned the same person - Sam Allardyce.

Therefore, Allardyce was investigated further. It was revealed that one of the agents, Peter Harrison, had illegally paid Craig Allardyce (Sam's son, who is a FIFA licensed agent, and has been a key figure in deals taking Ben Haim, Nakata and some other guy to Bolton) in order to make sure Bolton signed players Harrison represented. It was more-or-less proven that Sam Allardyce knew about this. Therefore, effectively, agents were illegally paying the Allardyce family in order for Bolton to sign players. A couple of these when Allardyce Jnr was contractually banned from doing any Bolton deals.

Harry Redknapp was seen effectively negotiating with an agent to 'tap-up' Andy Todd from Blackburn. Kevin Bond was also involved, more severely, in fact.

Liverpool and Chelsea officials were both seen tapping-up a 15-year-old Middlesboro player, with massive amounts of money.

That should read:

They bleeped out the names of the manager (presumably legal reasons) with the exception of one - all three agents mentioned the same person - Sam Allardyce.

Actually, the guy might not have been Dutch. Never mind.

Thanks, MLV!

quote:

Originally posted by MICHAEL_LA_VIOLA:
Actually, the guy might not have been Dutch. Never mind.

I thought he was Danish myself, but I don't think it was specified.

Or matters.

.

Knut auf dem Berge is, according to several newspapers, a 'former German semi-professional footballer'. This either means that he was a German, but has retired from being German (perhaps he's become a Lithuanian instead?), or used to be a semi-pro footballer. I'll leave it to you to decide which.

George Graham came through it in the end, I suspect Allardyce will be the same. It doesn't look healthy if the whole English game is exposed and in light of the punishment of Italian teams this summer, certain quarters will invariably call for stringent punishments.

I guess all the self-indignant English fans who made fun of the Italian scandel may have to start tasting some feathers.