The Guardian reports:
‘A high court judge yesterday condemned the football transfer market as a "murky world" in which agents and clubs struck "bizarre transactions" which could lead to conflicts of interest.
‘Mr Justice Elias spoke out on the third day of Fulham's £7m action against their former manager Jean Tigana as Pascal Boisseau, an agent whose conduct lies at the heart of the case, gave evidence. The judge's comments came as details of the transfer of the forward Steve Marlet from Auxerre to Lyon - he was later sold to Fulham - were revealed.
‘On hearing that the agency BMB, owned by Boisseau and his brother Sébastien, negotiated with Lyon as Marlet's agents and then, two weeks before the deal was done, signed a contract with the French club to find a striker, the judge said: "This . . . reveals some unsatisfactory facts about these agents' relationships and their possible conflicts of interest. It seems to be a pretty murky world in which all clubs and agents are lending their name to these rather bizarre transactions."
‘The case revolves around Tigana's conduct of Fulham's transfer dealings, primarily in relation to the £11.5m Marlet deal, and promises to reveal some of the less palatable mechanics of the modern football business.
‘Fulham allege that Tigana, who was sacked in April 2003, breached his contract by concealing from the club the true value of players purchased, and wilfully misled them during legal proceedings taken against BMB. The transfers in question are the subject of a criminal inquiry in France. Tigana denies Fulham's claim and is countersuing for £2.1m in share options he is owed by the club.
‘The court heard details of an extraordinary string of contracts struck between the Boisseau brothers and variously Marlet, Lyon and Fulham. These deals meant that BMB, at various stages in the transfer of Marlet from Lyon to Fulham, acted for all three parties and received money from both clubs for doing so.’