Details of transfers under investigation in Newcastle raid
Ed Harrison from the Newcastle blog writes:
As background to this disturbing story here are the transfers Newcastle were involved in - with the reasons the Stevens inquiry will not sign off on them:
1. The inquiry has not been able to sign off two transfers involving Francis Martin. In the transfer of Albert Luque (to Newcastle United), the licensed agent acting on the club’s behalf was Eugenio Botas. However, the inquiry still has unanswered questions relating to possible payments made by Francis Martin, who Newcastle officials believed was working for the selling club.
2. The following three other transfers remain uncleared: Emre Belözoglu (to Newcastle); Jean-Alain Boumsong (to Newcastle); Amdy Faye (to Newcastle). Again we have found no evidence to suggest any irregular payments by or to club officials relating to the above transfers and Newcastle officials cooperated fully with the inquiry and gave full access to documentation. However, there remain inconsistencies in evidence provided by Graeme Souness (a former manager of the club) and Kenneth Shepherd (apparently acting in an undefined role but not as a club official) as to their respective roles in transfer negotiations.The actual transfers involving Newcastle that require further investigation by Lord Stevens - after being identified as suspect - are specifically:
1. Alberto Luque, Deportivo La Coruña to Newcastle United, £9.5 million, 2005
2. Emre Belözoglu, Inter Milan to Newcastle, £3.8 million, 2005
3. Jean-Alain Boumsong, Rangers to Newcastle, £8 million, 2005
4. Amdy Faye, Portsmouth to Newcastle, £2 million, 2005
This is troubling news for the Newcastle management, and as I suspected yesterday some of the transfers are between the investigated clubs (such as Boumsong going from Rangers to Newcastle and Faye from Portsmouth to Newcastle).
The upside for Newcastle United here is that because of new ownership any fines or punishment put on them can be reduced on appeal. However, it’s a messy situation for all parties involved and I’m sure it’s really hard on the fans, so let’s stop the snickering at the back and try to figure out what actually went wrong, ok?
Yeah what happened? I thought you would be teeling us……..And I cant believe Souness is involved…………
Its ridiculous, £8m for Boumsong is criminal, but as Souness had shares in Rangers, he stood to take a bit of a windfall when the transfer went through. This is the same souness who came out only last month and said we were ‘a big team, with big problems’ He knows this because he created them! Pr*ck!
This confirms everything I already thought of Souness and the previous stewardship of the club and then some. To punish the club and the fans would be soul destroying when it’s those directly responsible who should be held accountable and punished accordingly. After all, can anyone honestly believe that Jean-Alain Boumsong wasn’t punishment enough for the fans just by his very being on the pitch.
The club released a statement saying that the club is NOT being investigated. Therefore if a crime has been committed it is AGAINST Newcastle. It is probably something to do with the previous regime at St James’ Park, and most likely the evidence has been provided by the new regime, as they are already conducting an internal review.
link to the statement
http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1073976,00.html
“The Club itself is not the subject of the investigation.
If the investigation by the City of London Police, or the ongoing internal review of operations by the Club’s new owners, show that the Club has been the victim of any criminal activity, the Club will take appropriate action.”
The City of London Police have stated that their inquiry has nothing to do with the Stevens Inquiry,but you choose to link the two.
Who are you a fan of again Ed?
Shake your head and look in the mirror.
NUFC wont be responsible, if anything it will be individuals like the Shepherds or Sounness or one of the Agents named.
The media like to sensationalize and make it seem like weve been laundering money by selling enriched plutonium to the Wahaabi Sect.
but i really think if anythings happened it seems to me that it will be certain individuals who get the rap and not NUFC as a club.
someone said it above, but Souness involved? surely not… 8 Million for a defender that was bought for free not even 6 months earlier to our purchase… hmm….
So is this like the West Ham inquiry about there transferes of Mascherano and Tevez?
But with NUFC?
Are Newcastle going to get fined Mllions of pounds too?
I hope not the year that Necastle could really be challenging for the Champions League and mybe even the title they are under suspision from Lord watsisname.
Im an Arsenal fan but id like to see United do well, with Owen, Emre, Viduka, Barton and Duff they really can be a force that can be scary and I think they will beat Spurs for 5th spot this seasopn unless this inquiry shite goes on..
Go Arsenal
Not to belittle the raids,but could one of these writers come up with a topic concerning uniteds draw with urawa.Those are some signings we made,couldn’t even beat an asian side.
spizzy - go to redrants.com - there should be a post coming up in a couple of hours.
Or you could always put up the question in the forum
You kids and you’re Forums, jeezuz what ever happened to AirMail, You and your Ipods’ and your Googles and Myspaces and Internets…
haha Boumsong cost £8 million
http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/2007/07/football_raid_j.html