Pompey and McKay charged

Pair charged over Benjani dealings

By James Pearson   Last updated: 14th August 2008

Benjani Manchester City Premier League Football Portsmouth

Benjani: Joined Man City in January

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Portsmouth and agent Willie McKay have both been charged by the Football Association with breaches of rules in relation to the transfer of Benjani to and from the club.

Under The FA's football agents regulations, agents are prohibited from acting for two different clubs in two consecutive transactions involving the same player.

Clubs are not allowed to use the services of an agent in such circumstances, the FA stated.

McKay is alleged to have acted on behalf of Auxerre when Benjani joined Portsmouth in January 2006.

It is then believed he acted for Portsmouth in Benjani's transfer from Portsmouth to Manchester City in January this year, the subsequent completed transaction involving the player.

Denial

Portsmouth have reacted swiftly to The FA's charge, strongly denying the allegations.

"We did not pay an agent when Benjani joined the club from Auxerre in January 2006, and his transfer to Manchester City in January 2008 was approved at the time by the Premier League and the FA's compliance unit," read a statement on their official website.

"This is nothing more than a technicality which we will contest."

Witch-hunt

McKay told Sky Sports News he had breached the rules by mistake but accused the FA of waging "a witch-hunt" against him.

"It's a nonsense. I'm not saying I never did it, I did do it, but what I am saying is I did it two years ago. Now, why did they let the transfer go through in the first place? I believe there is a witch-hunt against me and it has never ended."