Liverpool contacted by Football Association for answers about Man City ‘Spygate’ revelations
Liverpool have been asked by the Football Association for their response to the ‘Spygate’ revelations regarding their payment of £1million to Manchester City.
The settlement was agreed in 2013 after a complaint from the Citizens’ claiming their scouting system had been unlawfully accessed by former Liverpool club employees.
According to the legal settlement, Michael Edwards, who is now Liverpool’s sporting director, and two former City scouts who had moved to Anfield, were alleged by City to have been involved in accessing their database on the Scout7 system on hundreds of occasions.
The FA asked Man City to provide information, including the findings of a forensic computer expert they had employed to track suspicious logins and IP addresses.
And according to The Times, Man City have responded to the governing body, who have now written to Premier League leaders Liverpool for their response.
Neither club would comment on the FA’s request.
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The FA’s move is not being termed an investigation, however, it will examine all the responses and evidence provided by both clubs to see if they should pursue it.
The FA’s rules include a clause on misconduct that states: “A participant should at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute.”
They also define a participant as including any ‘affiliated competition, club, club official’ as well as players. This development will increase the pressure on the Premier League to launch an investigation.
It has so far declined to become involved despite the seriousness of the case, which would appear to be the worst instance of alleged misbehaviour by one top-flight club to another in the history of the Premier League.
The Premier League’s usual approach is to not intervene between two clubs has been resolved between them.
However, it may feel obliged to become involved if the FA finds any evidence of a breach of the league’s rule which says “each club shall behave towards each other club and the league with the utmost good faith.”
The report also goes on to say how the confidential settlement says the two scouts alleged to have been involved in accessing the database were Dave Fallows, who is now Liverpool’s head of recruitment, and Julian Ward, who was the club’s European scouting manager for Spain and Portugal. He is now on the loan pathways and football partnerships manager.
Man City scout Rob Newman allegedly had his login illicitly used by senior Liverpool staff between June 2012 and February 2013.
The settlement was made without Liverpool or the accused individuals accepting any liability or wrongdoing.
After the revelations, a Liverpool spokesman said: “Liverpool Football Club does not provide any comment on any allegations relating to legal agreements it may or may not have entered into with any other club, organisation or individual.”