Rooney's agent Stretford receives fine and 18-month ban for breaches of FIFA regulations

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The independent disciplinary commission’s sanctions follow charges brought by the FA against the founder of Proactive Sports Management relating to how he acquired the right to represent Manchester United’s then Everton striker in 2002.

Paul Stretford, the agent of Wayne Rooney (above), has been fined and banned for breaking FIFA rules

The charges were also for improper conduct in relation to Stretford 'making false and/or misleading witness statements to police and giving false and/or misleading testimony to Warrington Crown Court'.

The ban will not take effect until Stretford, who described the verdict as a 'travesty', has had his appeal heard.

The second nine months of the suspension will not be invoked if he is found to have not broken any other regulations.

The commission ruled as 'proved' seven of nine charges for breaches of the FIFA players’ agent regulations.

They included failing to protect Rooney’s interests and failing to respect the rights of third parties. This included enticing Rooney to join Stretford when he was still under contract with Pro-Form Sports Management Limited.'

However, a charge of enticing Rooney away from his previous agent was not proven.

In relation to the crown court case, the commission found proven two improper conduct charges.

A further charge of entering into a representation contract with Rooney for eight years — six years longer than the two-year limit for written contracts between agents and their clients — was also proved.

Two charges of failing to lodge representation contracts with the FA were also proved, but a third was not.

Stretford said: 'These charges came about as a result of my appearance at a criminal trial as a witness for the prosecution against men accused of blackmailing me with menaces.

'The FA seems almost wilfully to have cast me as the accused in the trial rather than a prosecution witness acting properly in the interests of justice. I shall continue to fight against these unjust charges.'