Rooney's agent banned and fined £300,000
Wednesday, 09 Jul 2008 17:10
Wayne Rooney's agent Paul Stretford fined £300,000 and banned from football for 18 months
The Football Association has fined the agent of
Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney £300,000 and banned him from operating for up to 18 months for professional misconduct.
Paul Stretford was found guilty of seven of the nine charges brought against him, which relate to how he acquired the right to represent Rooney in 2002/03.
It was proved at the hearing that Stretford, who conducts his business as a football agent with Proactive Sports Management, had enticed Rooney away from his former representatives Pro-Form Sports Management.
Stretford was found guilty of the charge of "failing to respect the rights of third parties", but cleared of "failing to refrain from any action that could entice clients away from other parties".
The FA also found Stretford guilty of "failing to lodge three representation contracts" with them, as per the governing body's rules and regulations.
It was also found proved that Stretford had entered into an eight-year agreement with Rooney, which exceeds the two-year limit for written contracts between agents and their clients.
Stretford's punishment, pending an appeal, will see him banned from operating as a football agent for nine months, with the second half of the ban suspended pending his full compliance with FA rules until January 1st 2011.
He has 14 days in which to appeal the decision, with early reports suggesting he intends to do so.