THE BBC'S PUBLIC SERVICE

Last updated : 20 September 2006 By Editor
From the Mirror:

Sam Allardyce was fighting for his future in football last night after being branded a serial bung-taker. Bolton manager Allardyce and his son Craig, a former agent, were accused by the BBC's undercover Panorama probe into the game.

In potentially devastating allegations, the Reebok Stadium boss was accused by THREE different agents of taking back-handers.

Allardyce's son was also accused of taking a cut from THREE separate Bolton signings, even though he was contractually banned from involvement in deals which concerned his father's club when one was arranged.

According to Football's Dirty Secrets, Craig Allardyce took illegal payments from agents - including a £50,000 bung following the signing of Israeli Tal Ben Haim.

And ex-Portsmouth No.2 Kevin Bond, now at Newcastle, seemingly suggested he and Pompey manager Harry Redknapp - who has denied all allegations - would be interesting in receiving cash from a new agency involving FIFA-registered Peter Harrison.

But it was the direct allegations about Allardyce and his son by Harrison and France-based Teni Yerima that will force the FA and the Premier League to act.


From the Guardian:

The Football Association has promised to investigate the allegations of bungs and breaches of their rules contained in last night's BBC Panorama programme Undercover: Football's Dirty Secrets.

An FA spokesman confirmed: "We have watched the programme with great interest and have asked the BBC if they will share the findings from their investigation with us. If we have evidence of possible breaches of rules and regulations we will of course investigate that."

Meanwhile Bolton are considering asking the BBC for further information on the programme. "We are reviewing the Panorama programme carefully and we may request further information from the BBC," said a club statement released this morning. "We will make further comment in due course."