EXCLUSIVE: FA investigation into Leeds owner Massimo Cellino could be set to collapse THE FA's 'bung' investigation into Massimo Cellino is in danger of collapsing after their star witness withdrew his evidence against the Leeds owner. please log in to view this image GETTY The FA's case against Leeds owner Massimo Cellino could be about to collapse The FA have spent more than 12 months investigating allegations Cellino paid a backhander to an agent during Ross McCormack's £10.75m switch to Fulham in 2014. Cellino was summoned to a hearing at Wembley last month after being charged over an alleged £185,000 payment to McCormack's advisor Barry Hughes, via licensed agent Derek Day. Hughes is not a licensed agent and FA rules forbid payments to unlicensed player representatives. FA bosses persuaded former Leeds administrator Graham Bean to attend the hearing and give evidence against Cellino in the hope it would help them find the Italian guilty. please log in to view this image Leeds owner Massimo Cellino could have no case to answer But Starsport can reveal Bean has now withdrawn his statement following a dispute with the FA over unpaid expenses. Bean insists the FA promised to reimburse him travel, hotel and loss of earnings costs - but have now gone back on their word. Bean, who is self-employed, has not been paid and is now taking legal action against the FA. The FA have informed Leeds of the stunning development, which could now leave Cellino with no case to answer. The controversial Cellino was facing a possible ban and hefty fine if found guilty of the charges. please log in to view this image Allegations against Massimo Cellino stem from a payment made during Ross McCormack's transfer There is no suggestion of wrong-doing by McCormack and the FA charged Cellino, Leeds and Day in May following a lengthy and exhaustive probe into them allegedly breaching their rules on football agents. Cellino and Day insisted they had done nothing wrong, but it is understood Bean provided FA investigators with a dossier of damning evidence against the duo. But the whole investigation could now fall down and become a huge embarrassment to the FA just because of their refusal to settle Bean's financial requirements. Starsport contacted the FA but no-one was available for comment.
EXCLUSIVE: FA investigation into Leeds owner Massimo Cellino could be set to collapse THE FA's 'bung' investigation into Massimo Cellino is in danger of collapsing after their star witness withdrew his evidence against the Leeds owner. please log in to view this image GETTY The FA's case against Leeds owner Massimo Cellino could be about to collapse The FA have spent more than 12 months investigating allegations Cellino paid a backhander to an agent during Ross McCormack's £10.75m switch to Fulham in 2014. Cellino was summoned to a hearing at Wembley last month after being charged over an alleged £185,000 payment to McCormack's advisor Barry Hughes, via licensed agent Derek Day. Hughes is not a licensed agent and FA rules forbid payments to unlicensed player representatives. FA bosses persuaded former Leeds administrator Graham Bean to attend the hearing and give evidence against Cellino in the hope it would help them find the Italian guilty. please log in to view this image Leeds owner Massimo Cellino could have no case to answer But Starsport can reveal Bean has now withdrawn his statement following a dispute with the FA over unpaid expenses. Bean insists the FA promised to reimburse him travel, hotel and loss of earnings costs - but have now gone back on their word. Bean, who is self-employed, has not been paid and is now taking legal action against the FA. The FA have informed Leeds of the stunning development, which could now leave Cellino with no case to answer. The controversial Cellino was facing a possible ban and hefty fine if found guilty of the charges. please log in to view this image Allegations against Massimo Cellino stem from a payment made during Ross McCormack's transfer There is no suggestion of wrong-doing by McCormack and the FA charged Cellino, Leeds and Day in May following a lengthy and exhaustive probe into them allegedly breaching their rules on football agents. Cellino and Day insisted they had done nothing wrong, but it is understood Bean provided FA investigators with a dossier of damning evidence against the duo. But the whole investigation could now fall down and become a huge embarrassment to the FA just because of their refusal to settle Bean's financial requirements. Starsport contacted the FA but no-one was available for comment.
Isn't it the case that the FA have refused to give Bean a bung - after promising they would? There's a huge slice of irony here, and no-one seems to have made a meal of it yet.
Jock I had a go on Twitter last night as it stinks bad. Bean has shone a light on how the FL?FA collect evidence and if they pay expenses and travel and days of work thats ok as long as its done in every case. If its not but the FA/FL 'think/suspect' somethings wrong and then entice evidence out, then thats a serious legal minefield. In this case there is no evidence against Cellino except the evidence from Bean. Bean had an agreement so begs the question why they reneged? did they find out the evidence from Bean was maybe a malicious former employee with an axe to grind? Theres a difference between a whistle blower and someone with an axe to grind, especially someone who wants cash incentive to give it. This case is already dead due the legal appeals that will fly in as everyone now knows how the evidence was collected and then rejected. FA/FL not fit for purpose
Perhaps Bean bent the truth, and does not want to get involved incase he is sued. Bitter former employee wants to get even on boss???
Surely, charges can only be bought when the FA have the EVIDENCE to charge him. We're talking sworn affidavits, statements etc etc. Sounds like the FA was in such a hurry to charge Cellino, they were not interested in the facts!
Yeah it seems that the whole process is flawed not just in this case. Why have the FL/FA never stopped a dodgy owner under its own fit and proper rules. Bates was a classic case and they had him on the main FA Board. Shinawatra, we have today people wanted for porn & kiddie fiddling via their on-line porn empires and yes Gold is involved too. We have money launderers, people traffickers, bent yanks (Liverpool, Villa), turkey farmers, oligarchs who are not as clever as the Chelsea twat. One wanted for murder who managed to sell his club to a mate. Fook me FL also have as boss a guy who has been called a liar by 2 High Court judges, and has been ridiculed in Parlaiment and also in front of select committee. Same bloke has taken his clubs into administration 3 times Why is the UK the only place on earth where foreign ownership is welcomed, why is our football open to gambling all around the world via on-line operations in the Far East Cellino maybe not everyones flavor of the month but hes no pork king, money launderer, drug dealer, murdering trafficker
He is no pork king i will agree with that. You might want to reprise cellinos alleged involvement in gun running and the murders related to it. Google and mighty are your friends.
Not arguing about that Chipster, I'm saying that he has been welcomed in by a potentially corrupt FA/FL but without doubt a failed administration. Its all about money and no sensible UK based business wants to be involved in top football. Therein lies the problem, until football has a reality check and gets back to grassroots we will always have a problem. Our difference of opinion regarding Cellino is that in my view he has turned a corner because I just want a successful team and so far this season he's giving me it. If he goes off like a bottle of pop again and sacks Monk then he loses me and I'll jump over the fence. You have to admit that we aint had fans so positive since L1 days with Grayson
Whisper it quietly i dont want the happy clappys to know but i have just given my tickets away for wetherby races this afternoon. Black lion will beat cue card.... Thats a tip. And have bought tickets to this afternoons game instead... Better go see what all the fuss is about.....get your money on 0-0 now.
I always thought after Bates was seen to be a fit and proper person that a fit and proper person was someone who is bent.
