FA took on Sam Allardyce despite warnings from The Sun over his links to an alleged £50k “bung” in 2009
THE FA took on Sam Allardyce despite warnings over his links to an alleged £50,000 “bung” in 2009.
The Sun discovered French defender Gael Givet paid the sum to smooth his move to Blackburn when Allardyce was manager.
It went to middleman Phil Black, a clothes shop boss not registered with the FA as an agent.
Rules strictly prohibit any third party being paid for a transfer unless they are licensed.
FA chiefs were-examining The Sun’s 2011 dossier on the case yesterday.
It included a copy of Givet’s bank statement which clearly showed three payments totalling £45,000 to Black.
Givet, now 34 and playing in France, recalled how Black contacted him and helped set up his move from Marseille.
But the player told how he was shocked when Black later demanded payment.
Givet then blew the lid on the alleged bung.
Givet was involved in a bribe furore with Allardyce in 2009
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The FA confirmed no action was taken against anyone.
When manager of Bolton a decade ago, Allardyce was accused of accepting bribes from agents to sign players.
No evidence was found.
An FA spokeswoman said: “We were satisfied with Sam Allardyce’s suitability.”
Allardyce, who has only been in charge for one game after replacing Roy Hodgson as manager in July, was quizzed by FA chiefs on Monday after he was caught in a sting advising on how to “get round” rules on players.
Big Sam lasted just 67 days and took charge for one game, a 1-0 win in Slovakia, and was defeated by a £400,000 dodgy deal scandal.
He is accused of meeting up with a bogus consortium, who were in fact undercover reporters posing as Far East businessmen who claimed they were interested in bringing overseas players to England.
Allardyce agreed to travel to Singapore and Hong Kong as an ambassador and explained to the “businessmen” how they could circumvent FA rules which prohibit third parties “owning” players.
Over the course of two meetings Allardyce told the fictitious businessmen that it was “not a problem” to bypass the rules introduced by his employers in 2008.
And during Allardyce’s meetings he mocked predecessor Roy Hodgson, calling him “Woy” and saying that he “hasn’t got the personality” for public speaking.
He also criticised Princes William and Harry as well as former Three Lions assistant manager Gary Neville.
An FA source admitted: “This could not have come at a worse time for England — there is chaos behind the scenes at the FA.
“They put their faith in Sam and he has let them down — as well as himself and the fans.
“God knows who they’ll turn to because the England job is the one no top coach will touch with a bargepole right now.
“It was always Sam’s dream job but he just wasn’t worthy of it.
“His only consolation will be that he will go down as the only England manager with a 100 per cent record.”
The England job was his dream come true — netting him £3million a year plus generous bonuses.
FA chief executive Martin Glenn admitted: “It’s been a really painful decision.
“But the FA is more than just running the England men’s team. We have to stand up for the right behaviours across the whole game. We are the guardians of the game.
“Sam is absolutely distraught. He recognises that he made a terrible error of judgment.
“He is deeply, deeply upset but I also think he understands why the FA had to take this tough decision.”
Allardyce was quizzed by FA chiefs after a dossier of evidence was presented by undercover reporters from The Daily Telegraph.
What Big Sam said to hidden camera
On Roy Hodgson: “He’d send them all to sleep, Roy. Woy. He hasn’t got the personality for it.”
On selecting his England squad: "Jack Wilshere, on the bench for Arsenal. Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench... When they’re not playing for the club, they’re just short of match practice.”
On Wembley Stadium: "They completely floored it and then rebuilt the new stadium which is fabulous, but that sort of debt is not really what you want. "
On the FA: "They’re all about making money aren’t they?"
On Prince William: “The only one that never turned up was Prince William. He’s our ambassador for the Football Association, so it would have been nice if he’d have turned up but he obviously had more, much busier things on.”
On Prince Harry: “Harry’s a naughty boy. He’s a very naughty boy, very naughty. He shows his bottom and all sorts.”