rewrite this title Tottenham face serious allegations of breaching transfer rules in Jermain Defoe to Portsmouth deal

Tottenham are facing serious allegations of breaching transfer rules during Jermain Defoe’s move to Portsmouth in 2008.

The Times claims new evidence shows Spurs dealt with an unlicensed agent while agreeing to sell ex-England striker Defoe to Portsmouth for £7.5million in January 2008.

No action was taken by the Football Association at the time, but it is understood the governing body are prepared to review the allegations.

Breaches of FA agent rules have previously resulted in point deductions, transfer bans, and suspensions for club officials.

“The case was heard by an independent arbitration panel 15 years ago,” a spokeswoman for the FA said.

“The FA was not a party to the arbitration. It is unclear how much information was shared with the FA at the time, and no disciplinary action was taken. If there is new evidence which was not available at the time, and which suggests serious breaches of our rules took place, we will review it.”

Luton were docked ten points for breaching agent regulations in the same year, while Tottenham finished three points above Manchester City to qualify for the Champions League in the 2009/10 season.

The allegations over Defoe’s move to Fratton Park were first raised by agent Sky Andrew, who was dropped by the former striker before the deal and remains at the forefront of the new investigation.

The Times claims: “At the arbitration hearing over the Defoe transfer, the panel found that Mitchell Thomas, the former West Ham United and Tottenham player and an unlicensed agent, was a central figure in the deal. Thomas was named by the FA in 2008 on a list of agents who had been operating in football without a licence.

“It was also heard that Levy enlisted the services of Stuart Peters, an agent who was licensed, to act for Tottenham but that a representation contract — required under FA rules — did not appear to be in place. Levy agreed to pay Peters about around £1 million for his role in the £7.5 million transfer.”

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Tottenham and Portsmouth both declined when asked for comment.

Read the full Times investigation here.