This time its Middlesbrough's
youngster that they are interested in... Not Arsenal's or Leed's.
Frank Arnesen appear on film apparently offering the player's agent
£150,000 if the England youth star, 15, signed for Chelsea.
Arnesen himself was tap-up from Spurs, now he is doing the
tapping-up.
Chelsea face 3-point
loss
By IAN McGARRY
CHELSEAS title defence has been undermined by a new tapping-up
scandal which could see them docked three points.
Last nights BBC bungs-probe Panorama programme showed Chelsea
academy director Frank Arnesen apparently offering the agent of
Middlesbrough youngster Nathan Porrit a deal to move to
Chelsea.
That evidence will be of significant interest to the Premier
League, who have already punished Chelsea for a similar
offence.
An independent commission set up by the authorities fined Jose
Mourinhos side £300,000 after they made an illegal approach for
Ashley Cole 18 months ago.
The Blues were also handed a three-point deduction suspended
unless the club was found to have committed the same offence in the
2005-2006 season.
And Panorama claimed last night that during that season Arnesen
offered Porrits agent Peter Harrison £150,000 if the England youth
star, 15, signed for Chelsea.
Harrison said: It is 99.9 per cent sure hes leaving
Middlesbrough.
Arnesen then replied on camera: 150,000 spread in three years and
we can do it like a royalty bonus and this and this salary, we
can talk about that.
If the case is proven against Chelsea, the Premier League would
have no choice but to dock the champs three points.
Liverpool also showed interest in the youngster seemingly against
FA rules. Boro confirmed they did not give permission for this
approach.
Harrison admitted on film that Boro did not know he was touting
Porritt around.
Both Chelsea and Liverpool denied the meetings filmed by the Beeb
broke any industry rules.
