Fulham Press On With Dempsey Tapping Up Case

[White Noise]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/9659834/Liverpool-braced-for-hearing-over-illegal-approach-for-Fulhams-Clint-Dempsey.html


Liverpool braced for hearing over 'illegal approach' for Fulham's Clint Dempsey


Liverpool are braced for a Premier League hearing to fight a charge of illegally approaching Clint Dempsey during last summer's failed bid for the former Fulham striker.



By Chris Bascombe

11:00PM GMT 06 Nov 2012

13 Comments

Dempsey left Craven Cottage for Tottenham on deadline day last August despite well-documented interest from the Merseyside club.

Fulham did not drop their complaint following Dempsey's departure and are still rigorously intent on calling Liverpool to account for what they believe is a breach of the rules.

Evidence is still being assembled in the case, but Liverpool could be fined or hit with a suspended points deduction if they are unable to defend themselves against the charge.

Fulham made a formal protest to the Premier League in July after taking exception to comments by manager Brendan Rodgers, reported on Liverpool's official website, expressing interest in the striker.

There was also an embarrassing gaffe on the New England Sports Network website which erroneously claimed a deal was agreed. Although Liverpool Football Club have no editorial control over NESN, they have the same owners and a private apology was issued to the London club for the mistake.

Liverpool intend to fight any charge and are aware an investigation is ongoing, although it is understood they have not yet received any confirmation of a timescale as to when a hearing will take place.

Fulham's case will focus on the public comments released by Liverpool, which undoubtedly impacted on the Anfield club's negotiating position when it came to trying to seal a deal for the American international.

Liverpool have been called to account by the Premier League before, when they were fined for an illegal approach to Middlesbrough's Christian Ziege in 2000.

Spurs also reported Liverpool when they moved for Robbie Keane in 2008, although they dropped the complaint on completion of the £20 million sale.
In recent years, Chelsea received a three-point, suspended penalty for illegally approaching Ashley Cole.

[Rupert]

I'm pleased to see this is still happening. It's not so much because Dempsey left, or Liverpool offered us much less than we were willing to accept for his contract, but the very fact that we are taking action should deter anyone from trying it on again in the future.
Even if we had sold Dempsey to them after they offered us £10million, or whatever, I hope we would have carried on with this. It's just a shame that Spuds let themselves be bought off in 2008.

[White Noise]

I hope they quiz Jol because he stated on a couple of occassions that Dempsey had said to him that Liverpool wanted him and that he wanted to go and then the scousers never made a bid.

Still, Clint did say on Twitter that he will tell us the 'truth' soon so I'm sitting tight for that.

[HatterDon]

Well, if MAF is putting the wind up somebody, all is right with the world. If that idiot at NESN hadn't put that stupid post up on their website, we'd have gotten more money for the boy and Liverpool wouldn't be scrambling to finish at mid-table. It appears as if the deal was done and dusted before that screw-up pissed off Al Fayed to the point that he wouldn't deal with Liverpool at all.

[Andy_M]

Will be interesting to see what comes out. As WhiteNoise has said I look forward to finding out what the "truth" Dempsey was referring to actually is....

[Yellow Jacket]

Will be interesting to see what comes out. As WhiteNoise has said I look forward to finding out what the "truth" Dempsey was referring to actually is....

If this pushes through then he probably will have to reveal it. He thought it would just blow by and not need to speak up for himself.

[Apprentice to the Maestro]

Well, if MAF is putting the wind up somebody, all is right with the world. If that idiot at NESN hadn't put that stupid post up on their website, we'd have gotten more money for the boy and Liverpool wouldn't be scrambling to finish at mid-table. It appears as if the deal was done and dusted before that screw-up pissed off Al Fayed to the point that he wouldn't deal with Liverpool at all.

In what way does it appear the deal was done?

What evidence is there that any negotiations between the clubs had taken place?

If `the deal was done' why would it appearing on the web site prematurely scupper the deal?