Zahavi's lawyers demand apology over Stevens claims - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Zahavi's lawyers demand apology over Stevens claims

Pini Zahavi's lawyers have written to the Premier League demanding an immediate apology after their client was named in Lord Stevens' report into alleged transfer irregularities.

In the strongly-worded two-page letter, the Quest investigation team are accused of attempting to deliberately harm Zahavi's reputation by leaking details of his responses to the inquiry.

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Don't Pini the blame on me: Super agent Pini Zahavi demands a super apology over Lord Stevens' report

And the lawyers claim the Stevens report named Zahavi in "a wrongful attempt to justify the nomination of Quest by showing some findings against our client where none actually exist".

Zahavi was accused of not co-operating fully with the inquiry because he failed to provide the Quest inquiry with complete bank statements.

The report added that questions remain over Zahavi's dealings with agent Barry Silkman and recommended FIFA be asked to launch their own inquiry into the Israeli agent.

Zahavi immediately issued a firm denial and his lawyers have not ruled out suing Quest and the Premier League for damages.

The letter, addressed to chairman Sir David Richards and chief executive Richard Scudamore, states: "Our client holds the name of the Quest employee who briefed the press on a regular basis, slandering our client for no reason. This can only be seen as a deliberate attempt to harm our client's reputation.

"It seems that Quest's misleading publication concerning our client is a wrongful attempt to justify the nomination of Quest by showing some findings against our client where none actually exist.

"Due to this publication of misleading findings, our client's reputation was and is still being badly damaged. Newspapers around the world are quoting the publication calling for FIFA to investigate 'Mr Zahavi's conduct', whereas his conduct was honourable.

"Therefore we expect a prompt and unambiguous statement by Quest and/or the FA Premier League, which would include an apology for the aforementioned publication and a clarification as to our client's co-operation with the inquiry, in particular his consent to provide relevant bank statements.

"Our client is reserving the right to hold you and Quest responsible for any damages resulting from the groundless and reckless publication."

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