The FA have confirmed that they will ‘look into’ Jermain Defoe’s move from Tottenham to Portsmouth in 2008 that allegedly breached transfer rules. 
The Times report that Spurs could face heavy punishment if found guilty after evidence appears to show that chairman Daniel Levy dealt with an unlicensed agent in negotiations that saw Defoe complete a £7.5million move to Pompey.
At the time, the FA decided to take no action against Tottenham but English football’s governing body has revealed it will take a new look into the case in a move that could potentially have devastating consequences.
As confirmed by the Times, an FA statement on Wednesday read: “We are looking at the case, and as part of that we will be reviewing the arbitration panel award.”
The outlet also further confirmed that football’s governing body would be reopening the case against the London giants, having previously not taken action.
Clubs were banned from “using the services of an unlicensed agent’ as per FA regulations at the time, and potential punishments for serious breaches included points deductions, fines and other forms of disciplinary action including even relegation a possibility.
Breaching FA rules on agents has led to clubs being hit with points deductions, suspensions for directors and transfer bans imposed. In that same year, Luton Town were docked 10 points for breaking the agent rules.
Sources have told Football Insider that there is a growing appetite among football’s governing body to hit clubs hard if they are found to have breached the rules.
This comes at a politically sensitive time with the introduction of an independent regulator for English football, weeks before legislation is expected to be announced in parliament.
The report from the Times claims that former West Ham and Tottenham player Mitchell Thomas – who was a “central figure” in Defoe’s move to Portsmouth – was an unlicensed agent at the time.
It has been claimed that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, Defoe and then-Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp all dealt with Thomas during the deal.
Agents are permitted to act for a player in a transfer but must hold a licence and have a formal representation contract.
The contract between an agent and a player must contain “the entire agreement between the parties in relation to the agency activity”, including details of the commission due.
FA regulations at the time – that are still in place today – stipulated that players and clubs are not allowed to use unlicensed agents to complete transfer deals.
Portsmouth told The Times: “The signing of Jermain Defoe in 2008 occurred under a previous ownership and those involved in the transfer of the player’s registration from Tottenham Hotspur are no longer at the club, having left many years ago.
“The current board and ownership acquired the club in 2017 from the Pompey Supporters’ Trust and club presidents, who themselves formally acquired the club in 2013.
“The board and the new executive therefore have no knowledge of any negotiations that led to Portsmouth Football Club’s registration of Jermain Defoe in 2008.”
