Five questions for FA to answer

What are the key questions the FA must answer as it considers sacking England manager Sam Allardyce?

Meetings are taking place at Wembley after the Daily Telegraph secretly filmed Allardyce discussing the possibility of circumventing FA rules on third-party ownership and mocking predecessor Roy Hodgson.

An FA insider has told Sky Sports News HQ there is “disbelief” at the timing of these allegations, so soon into Allardyce’s reign, and he has made “poor judgement”.

The FA’s top two officials are seeking the facts and deciding whether Allardyce has breached his contract and/or FA rules.

FA chairman Greg Clarke and FA chief executive Martin Glenn are expected to discuss their observations and speak to the rest of the FA Board, possibly by phone, before any decision is communicated. 

Clarke and Glenn will want answers to some of the following questions: 

Was Allardyce encouraging third-party ownership?

Third-party ownership of footballers has been banned by the FA since the start of the 2008/09 season and FIFA introduced a global ban on third-party ownership in May 2015. 

The Daily Telegraph alleges Allardyce described those rules as “ridiculous” and explained to undercover reporters how to circumvent them.

The reporters were posing as businessmen, who were hoping to profit by investing in young players on a third-party arrangement.

One of the most serious charges Allardyce faces is the suggestion that he was endorsing an activity that is strictly banned by his employer.

The FA must decide whether he was endorsing the practice or even advising the “businessmen”?

He could argue he was not endorsing third-party ownership, but was simply answering a question on how it works. 

Sky Sports News HQ understands he now accepts his explanation was inaccurate and as England manager, it was wrong to offer an opinion.

Was there any conflict of interest?

The Telegraph’s report appears to show Allardyce and his agent discussing a £400,000-a-year deal to speak to investors in Singapore and Hong Kong four times a year.

However, Allardyce repeatedly stressed that he would need the FA’s permission before signing a contract with them.

The FA is likely to now consider whether these discussions might constitute a …

continue reading in source www.skysports.com