Two months after taking up the England manager’s job, Sam Allardyce was caught in a sting operation revealing ways to get around player transfer rules involving third-party ownership. The English Football Association had banned third-party player ownership in 2008.
Allardyce was caught on camera giving advice to reporters of the Daily Telegraph who were posing as businessmen from the Far East. Allardyce told the reporters he knew of certain agents who were constantly bypassing the rules. “You can still get around it. I mean obviously the big money’s here,” he is reported saying in the video. The FA has asked to see the video, which could potentially damage the 61-year-old's career if he is charged.
Allardyce will have to explain his stance on the matter and whether he was merely giving an honest account of what happens in the sport or follows those practices himself. The FA has requested the full transcripts of the secretly taped recordings in which Allardyce uses his power as England manager to negotiate a £400,000 deal whereby he would fly to Singapore and Hong Kong to address investors wanting to buy football players.
Allardyce is also caught on tape calling former England manager Roy Hodgson as "Woy", mocking his speech impediment. Allardyce also said that the FA’s rebuilding of Wembley was "stupid" and describes Gary Neville, Hodgson’s assistant, as "the wrong influence", saying he should have been told to "sit down and shut up".