Leeds United have been charged by the Football Association for breaching football agent regulations over the sale of Ross McCormack to Fulham. The club, Leeds chairman Massimo Cellino and agent Derek Day have all been charged regarding a transaction relating to the transfer in July 2014. It is alleged Leeds made an illegal payment to Day - a breach of FA rules. Scotland striker McCormack, 29, has not been charged, with all parties having until 20 May to respond. Cellino, who recently admitted he wished he had never bought the Championship club, was disqualified by the Football League after being convicted of tax evasion, but the Italian was acquitted earlier this month. Arsenal were fined £60,000 for a similar breach of agent regulations in October 2015 regarding the transfer of Calum Chambers. Why would Leeds pay Derek Day (McCormacks agent?) to sell him ? bizarre.
Not sure what the relationship between Day and McCormack actually was. However Day was a Licensed FIFA Agent and it is alleged that took a fee (£185,000) on behalf of McCormack’s advisor Barry Hughes. As Hughes is not licensed by the Football Association, this is seen as a breach of Football Agent Regulations. One way to look at the alleged offence is that the money was a 'backhander' to Hughes and the 'middleman' (or agent) role played by Day had a very loose interpretation. [Derek Day works as a football agent through his firm Shadow Brands. McCormack's current Agent is said to be Soccermanagent GB.]
Shadow Brands... Derek Day... those names in themselves make me suspicious. It's a shame for Leeds, if they could just sort themselves out they could be toward the top end of the PL, what with the fan base and a 40k seater stadium. Although they've been subject to a whole different set of circumstances than us, looking at them does make me wonder if it's realistic to think we could get back to the PL in the next 5 years, minimum. It seems harsh for Leeds to be included in punishment unless Massi can be shown to have had some prior knowledge this is how Day would use the money - maybe McC at that time was actually represented by Hughes and Leeds were just desperate to push the transfer through and orchestrated it all or perhaps McC held them to ransom with such a big fee on offer and demanded his pal wee Barry get a bit of the action.
The FA have decided: please log in to view this image Wonder who else will be on the education course with him? PS there was a £250,000 fine as well.
