FA investigate Sam Allardyce claims as Greg Clarke demands ‘all the facts’ over allegations against England manager

Richard Parry27 September 2016

The FA have today opened investigations following allegations that Sam Allardyce used his position as England manager to advise a businessman on getting around third-party player ownership laws.

Filmed during an undercover operation by the Daily Telegraph, Allardyce is claimed to have met people who he thought were representatives of a Far East firm from which a £400,000 deal was said to be negotiated.

When asked about the rules preventing third-party ownership, Allardyce was filmed on a hidden camera saying: "It's not a problem."

He added an unnamed group had been "doing it for years" and "you can still get around it", suggesting they employ the player's agents to compensate for the fact they are no longer allowed to profit from each transfer directly.

Allardyce repeatedly told the undercover reporters that he would require clearance from his bosses at the FA before any deal could be finalised.

Allardyce has yet to respond to the allegations, while the Football Association have asked to see the all of the Telegraph’s recordings as part of an internal investigation, which will be led by new chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn.

"I want all the facts, to hear everything from everyone and make a judgement about what to do," Clarke told the Daily Mail.

In Pictures: Sam Allardyce's managerial career

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"Natural justice requires us to get to the bottom of the issues before we make any decision. It is not appropriate to pre-judge the issue. With things like this you have to take a deep breath."

The Standard has contacted Allardyce for comment.

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