Seb
September 16th, 2006, 08:35 AM
FFA probe Sydney player deal
SYDNEY FC is on a collision course with the game's ruling body after Football Federation Australia began an investigation into alleged breaches of the competition's salary cap.
The Saturday Daily Telegraph has learnt the FFA is probing alleged discrepancies between a player's contract that Sydney FC filed with the authorities and the one the player received.
It's understood the discrepancies relate to payments made to the player's agent, which it was claimed were not detailed in the contract provided to the FFA in early 2005 and which relate to so-called "side agreements" that have only now come to light.
But last night defiant club sources insisted they had a watertight legal defence to any potential charge and were entirely confident there is a paper trail of evidence to clear them of any wrongdoing.
It was claimed that written legal advice from within the FFA at the time - early 2005 - validated Sydney's action, and last night FFA sources confirmed they were checking through their correspondence with Sydney FC, as well as making detailed inquiries of the A-League champions.
Competition rules are categorical that all payments to players must be included as part of the salary cap calculations.
The player concerned is believed to be veteran striker and former Socceroo David Zdrilic, although at this stage there is no suggestion he was aware of any payments to his agent breaching the salary cap. FFA officials plan to interview the player and agent in question, as well as hold further talks with club officials, before deciding what penalty, if any, Sydney will face.
FFA officials last night refused to discuss the individual case but conceded that Sydney could face further deduction of points and a serious fine, in addition to the $44,000 fine and suspended one-point deduction they received earlier this month.
That offence related to a shortfall in the amount of community work that the club's players undertook having already been paid for.
The current investigation is potentially much more serious because it would be a direct breach of the salary cap, the integrity of which the FFA is determined to maintain.
Yesterday, Sydney FC chief executive Tim Parker - and other club sources - played down the investigation, with Parker saying he believed the club may have already been cleared.
"As far as we're concerned the issue is a non-issue," said Parker, who joined the club after the period in question.
Other figures connected with the club were equally confident that no charge would be laid, insisting that the advice Sydney had received would kill the matter.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20420023-23215,00.html
SYDNEY FC is on a collision course with the game's ruling body after Football Federation Australia began an investigation into alleged breaches of the competition's salary cap.
The Saturday Daily Telegraph has learnt the FFA is probing alleged discrepancies between a player's contract that Sydney FC filed with the authorities and the one the player received.
It's understood the discrepancies relate to payments made to the player's agent, which it was claimed were not detailed in the contract provided to the FFA in early 2005 and which relate to so-called "side agreements" that have only now come to light.
But last night defiant club sources insisted they had a watertight legal defence to any potential charge and were entirely confident there is a paper trail of evidence to clear them of any wrongdoing.
It was claimed that written legal advice from within the FFA at the time - early 2005 - validated Sydney's action, and last night FFA sources confirmed they were checking through their correspondence with Sydney FC, as well as making detailed inquiries of the A-League champions.
Competition rules are categorical that all payments to players must be included as part of the salary cap calculations.
The player concerned is believed to be veteran striker and former Socceroo David Zdrilic, although at this stage there is no suggestion he was aware of any payments to his agent breaching the salary cap. FFA officials plan to interview the player and agent in question, as well as hold further talks with club officials, before deciding what penalty, if any, Sydney will face.
FFA officials last night refused to discuss the individual case but conceded that Sydney could face further deduction of points and a serious fine, in addition to the $44,000 fine and suspended one-point deduction they received earlier this month.
That offence related to a shortfall in the amount of community work that the club's players undertook having already been paid for.
The current investigation is potentially much more serious because it would be a direct breach of the salary cap, the integrity of which the FFA is determined to maintain.
Yesterday, Sydney FC chief executive Tim Parker - and other club sources - played down the investigation, with Parker saying he believed the club may have already been cleared.
"As far as we're concerned the issue is a non-issue," said Parker, who joined the club after the period in question.
Other figures connected with the club were equally confident that no charge would be laid, insisting that the advice Sydney had received would kill the matter.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20420023-23215,00.html