By DPA,
London : Portsmouth pronounced themselves “astounded” after being fined for breaching rules over the transfer of forward Benjani Mwaruwari.
An independent commission imposed a 15,000-pound ($23,000) fine and have given the player’s agent, Willie McKay, a suspended sentence.
They were found guilty of breaching a Football Association (FA) regulation prohibiting agents from acting for two different clubs in two consecutive transactions involving the same player.
McKay was found to have acted on behalf of Auxerre when Benjani moved in January 2006 to Portsmouth. He then acted for Portsmouth when the Zimbabwe striker moved in January to Manchester City.
“Portsmouth FC is astounded that the FA have fined the club in respect of Benjani Mwaruwari’s transfers to and from the club,” a team spokesman said.
“We had no idea that the agent Willie McKay received a fee when the player joined us from Auxerre in January 2006, and both the agent and club confirmed this to the FA – evidence they have clearly ignored.”