Last updated at 3:09 AM on 26th January 2009
Daily Mail
The Football Association will this morning begin an investigation into the
circumstances around the transfer of Matthew Spring from Luton Town to
Charlton Athletic, on the basis of possible third party interference from
Sheffield United. Don't hold your breath.
It has long been Sheffield United's lot to be painted as victims of grave
injustice, so do not expect this latest twist to make a ripple in that smug
little pond, or to appear anywhere beyond these pages. Even so, this is
important; or it would be if football cared for anything more than grand
gestures to the gallery.
Spring did not play for Charlton against Sheffield United in the FA Cup on
Saturday because of an agreement between the clubs. Such cosy deals are
legal now except Spring was never a permanent Sheffield United player. He
was a Luton Town player, who spent time on loan at Bramall Lane. This is how
it worked.
A journeyman midfield player, late of Leeds United and Watford, Spring
signed a season-long loan at Sheffield United, but it was not happening for
him and he returned to Luton in the transfer window. Charlton then bought
him but, as a condition of the deal, it was agreed that he could not play
against Sheffield United in the FA Cup. Charlton did not even register him
for the competition, despite Spring featuring in their League games with
Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday. This was confirmed on the
official Charlton website before the fourth-round tie. 'Also unavailable,'
it reported, 'is midfielder Matthew Spring under an agreement that was
struck with the Blades following his release from a season-long loan at
Bramall Lane earlier this month, that enabled him to complete a permanent
switch to The Valley from Luton Town.'
Still with me?
In other words, Sheffield United were able to de-select from the opposing
team a player who had never been owned solely by them. Take that one to its
potential conclusion. Perhaps Sheffield United could reach an agreement with
Doncaster Rovers not to play their goalkeeper, Neil Sullivan, in their match
at Bramall Lane tomorrow night, too? Maybe Manchester City's Sheik could
offer Newcastle United a cut to keep that pesky Michael Owen out of the way
on Wednesday. It would save him a right few quid on players.
The Football League, despite Lord Mawhinney's regular land-grabs for the
high moral ground, do not have rules governing third party interference, and
a spokesman yesterday presented this issue as a hospital pass to the
Football Association, who have been so anxious for involvement in third
party rulings in the past.
Now they have the chance. Rule C1 (b), clause 3 states: 'No club shall enter
into a contract which enables any other party to that contract to acquire
the ability materially to influence the club's policies or performance of
its teams in matches and/or competition.'
In English? For Spring to join Charlton, his registration would have to be
held at that moment by Luton, not Sheffield United. And once this document
was restored to Luton, Sheffield United became a third party and any
involvement in his career should cease. For Sheffield to then influence
whether a permanent Charlton signing plays against them is therefore third
party interference; just as it was when Sheffield and Watford publicly
announced the gentlemen's agreement that kept Steve Kabba out of the Watford
line-up against his former club in 2007, the year Sheffield went down. In
their last five matches, it was Sheffield United's sole win. Somehow, the
Premier League allowed those clubs off the hook, because the arrangement was
denied and nothing was in writing.
Chances are that Sheffield United will get away with it again. Despite all
that has happened these last two seasons, the rules seem either vague,
easily circumvented or non-existent. Many pontificate, but few seem moved to
act. We have, however, cornered the market in hypocrisy. For clearly, it is
unthinkable that a man as publicly committed to fair play as Kevin McCabe,
chairman of Sheffield United, would not have checked the regulations first
and ensured that everything about Spring's transfer was above board and not
at all wonky or open to abuse. And what a good thing that is, really, for
otherwise a fellow could get quite confused by football's new morality.
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