Investigation

Exclusive investigation: England manager Sam Allardyce for sale

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• published: 27 Sep 2016
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Exclusive investigation: England manager Sam Allardyce for sale Sam Allardyce used his position as England manager to negotiate a £400,000 deal and offered advice to businessmen on how to “get around” FA rules on player transfers, The Telegraph can disclose. Before he had even held his first training session as England’s new head coach, Allardyce negotiated a deal with men purporting to represent a Far East firm that was hoping to profit from the Premier League’s billion-pound transfer market. He agreed to travel to Singapore and Hong Kong as an ambassador and explained to the “businessmen” how they could circumvent Football Association rules which prohibit third parties “owning” players. Unbeknown to Allardyce, the businessmen were undercover reporters and he was being filmed as part of a 10-month Telegraph investigation that separately unearthed widespread evidence of bribery and corruption in British football. Sam Allardyce Sam Allardyce explained to the businessmen how they could circumvent FA rules which prohibit third parties ‘owning’ players CREDIT: TELEGRAPH Over the course of two meetings, lasting four hours in total, Allardyce told the fictitious businessmen that it was “not a problem” to bypass the rules introduced by his employers in 2008. He said he knew of certain agents who were “doing it all the time” and added: “You can still get around it. I mean obviously the big money’s here.” During Allardyce’s meetings with the reporters he also: Criticised his predecessor Roy Hodgson, dubbing him “Woy” and saying that he “hasn’t got the personality” for public speaking; Said England’s players were underperforming because they had a “psychological barrier” and “can’t cope”; Suggested that players who were not being played for their club should not be picked for England; Described the FA decision to redevelop Wembley as “stupid”. The issue of “third party ownership” in football has been described as “slavery”. It effectively allows companies to own a stake in a footballer. The FA led the way by banning the practice in 2008 and football’s world governing body, Fifa, followed in 2015. Allardyce, 61, told his prospective employers it was “not a problem” to dodge the “ridiculous” rules. Watch Allardyce mock Hodgson's voice and criticise NevillePlay! 01:21 Last week the England manager followed up his initial meeting by having dinner with representatives of the fictitious firm in a Manchester restaurant, where he discussed dates when he could fly to Singapore. Allardyce, who is paid £3 million a year plus bonuses by the FA, now faces questions about his judgment just weeks after his first and so far only match in charge of the national side. During the meetings he also made a series of remarks about the previous performances of the England team. He said that Roy Hodgson was “too indecisive” during England’s crucial European Championship defeat to Iceland. He also said that Gary Neville – Hodgson’s assistant – was “the wrong influence” and should have been told to “sit down and shut up”. The Telegraph began investigating corruption in English football last year after receiving information that specific managers, officials and agents were giving or receiving cash payments to secure player transfers. Over the coming days, the Telegraph will detail a series of allegations of financial impropriety in British football which raise serious questions about the governance and influence of money within the game. Pillan al seleccionador inglés en un vídeo comprometedor Sam Allardyce dice como hacer trampas en la propiedad de terceros y descalifica a sus antecesores Roy Hodgson y su ayudante Gary Neville El nuevo seleccionador de Inglaterra, Sam Allardyce está metido en un buen lío. Resulta que periodistas del Telegraph se hicieron pasar por hombres de negocios que querían invertir dinero en la Premier League. Y el entonces técnico del Sunderland (está grabado en vídeo) les explicó como hacer las trampas necesarias para evitar el control legal sobre la propiedad de terceros (hird part ownership), prohibidas desde el 2008 en el fútbol británico. El diario inglés ha publicado el contenido de lo grabado con el consiguiente escándalo. Sam Allardyce, en dos sesiones de dos horas cada una, explica a sus interlocutores como evitar los controles sobre la propiedad de terceros. Añade que es muy fácil y que hay numerosos agentes que lo hacen habitualmente. En las reuniones participó su propio representante, Mark Curtis y su consultor financiero Scott McGarvey. Comentarios contra Hogdson y Neville demás, en esas grabaciones, Sam Alaldyce no está precisamente cariñoso con su antecesor en el cargo, el veterano Roy Hogdson y de su ayudante, el ex técnico del Valencia, Gary Neville. De paso critica a la FA (Federación Inglesa de Fútbol) a quien critica por la millonada invertida en el nuevo Wembley. En un momento dado, llega a meterse hasta con la familia Real británica, descalificando