Managers named in undercover 'bung' probe

14 April 2012

The Football Association today faced calls to be investigated by Scotland Yard, amid allegations that the heart of football is corrupt.

Former FA "sleazebuster" Graham Bean, speaking ahead of tonight's Panorama documentary, said it was now clear that the game had deep-rooted problems.

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• Agents caught in BBC sting 'had offered Newell money'

• Newell: Swindlers will be revealed

• Allardyce silent over bung claims

The BBC investigation is set to produce damning footage of a prominent agent naming six to eight managers as willing to receive illegal payments.

Graham Bean, former head of the FA's compliance operation, said that football should be probed to the extent that horse racing has been, where former Met superintendent Paul Scotney has allegedly uncovered a fixing racket.

Mr Bean said: "I look at the comparison of the Jockey Club for example - three years ago they were the laughing stock of sport in regards of the allegation of corruption in their sport - they bring in a person like Paul Scotney and his team of very experienced investigators from Scotland Yard and they have blown the sport apart and that's what the FA need to do."

A number of Premiership managers have already come forward to declare their innocence. Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, known to have faced scrutiny during a FA probe, has threatened to sue the BBC if he is named in the documentary.

In Undercover: Football's Dirty Secret, reporters attempt a sting on Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp, who has insisted he is "a one million per cent innocent party" and also said he may take legal action.

Redknapp added: "There is no evidence against me, I don't even know why my name has been dragged into all this."

A preview of footage from Panorama featuring the soccer agent Charles Collymore, who has represented various Premiership players including Eric Djemba-Djemba and Khalilou Fadiga, shows him saying: "There's managers out there who take bungs all day long."

The programme is broadcast as an official six-month inquiry into football corruption headed by former Met commissioner Lord Stevens draws to a close.

The independent inquiry, which was announced earlier this year by Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore, will reveal its findings next month.

Allegations of corruption by Premiership and Football League managers resurfaced last year when Luton manager Mike Newell said agents had tried to pay him money for illicit transfers.

Mr Newell said that Mr Collymore offered him a cut of a player's fee that he tried to negotiate.

Mr Collymore denies offering or accepting any payments and said he gave the BBC's undercover coach false information because he was suspicious of his agenda.

ABBC statement said today: "On the eve of the official Lord Stevens inquiry report into skulduggery in the beautiful game, this secret camera investigation - naming top agents, clubs and managers who are cheating their supporters - delivers evidence he won't have but which will rock football."

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