Reds and Ziege fined over illegal approach

The Reds have been guilty of "tapping up" the German international from Boro in July 2000 after the Riverside club accused them of making an illegal approach for the defender.

Liverpool snapped up Ziege for £5.5 million as the former Milan ace had a get-out clause in his contract, but Boro insist they could have sold him to other clubs for £8 million and demanded another £2.5 million from the Merseyside outfit.

Ziege, who is now at Tottenham has also been fined £10,000, but Middlesbrough are considering taking legal action against the finding feeling aggrieved that they have not received any compensation.

"We're delighted with the outcome and it's only what we expected," Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson said.

"We're now looking to take this matter further."