Portsmouth 'astounded' by FA decision
Transfers of Benjani to and from Fratton Park are at the centre of the controversy
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Monday, 15, Dec 2008 10:37
Portsmouth have reacted angrily to the news that the Football Association has fined them £15,000 over transfers of Benjani Mwaruwari to and from the south coast club.
The club were found to have broken FA rules regarding the club's use of football agents after their dealings with Willie McKay during the signing of Benjani from Auxerre in 2006 and the subsequent sale of the striker to Manchester City last January.
The club have had a further £15,000 fine suspended for two years, but claimed in an official statement that they were "astounded" by the decisiom.
"We had no idea that Willie McKay received a fee when Benjani joined us from Auxerre," the club said.
"Both the agent and the club confirmed this to the FA - evidence they have clearly ignored."
McKay was also handed a suspended ban by the FA for his part in the transfers, after he represented the selling club in both cases, which is against FA rules which stipulate that agents cannot act for two different clubs in two consecutive transactions involving the same player.